Office To Residential Or HMO

The Greyfriars building could plausibly become conventional flats or a large co-living HMO, and each route carries different planning risk, build cost, and income. Committing to the wrong use class early would have meant abortive design fees and a weaker planning story. The client needed both options tested to the same standard before choosing.

We sketched the building both ways. Option 2 tests a residential conversion with an extension. Option 4 tests a nine-bedroom en-suite HMO with distributed shared spaces, also with the extension. Both layouts are colour-coded by room function, with bedroom sizes and shared amenity areas stated on the drawings, so the two schemes can be compared like for like.

The client received two fully drawn options for the same envelope, each with its own unit and room schedule. That turned an abstract use-class decision into a straightforward comparison of income, build scope, and planning position.