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Last year a neighbour applied to convert storage facility to "residential" and got refused. One of the grounds was an objecvtion from Highways because of lack of off-street parking and the fact that the street is very narrow such that residents'scars could only park on the pavement,
He has now applied to convert it to holiday let (AirBNB).
Planning now seem more willing to disregard the hoghways input and the Planning officer has stated that, being a small holiday let, there would be less traffic and so should be treated differently from "Residential".
Can the Officer make such a subjective assertation?

If there are different Planning policies, then yes.

But what do you mean by “residential” as a holiday let is still a residential use. Or were you implying they were refused permission for a separate dwelling or ancillary annexe?

The Planning Officer is saying that holiday let premises:-

1. Generate less traffic movement than a normal residence and so safety issues like parking on the pavement is not sufficient reason to refuse PP.

2. Holiday let premises do not need amenity space because the guests are out most of the day.

My view is that the planning officer had become overly accommodating towards the applicant ever since a local agent got involved (??)

Ideally, I'm looking for evidence that Planning normally do not make a distinction between a residence and holiday let premises. I maintain that a residential property is a residence whether it is let out to AirBNB or not.

You would need to research Planning Appeals or do so via a Planning Consultant.

However, I wound agree there is a difference between a house, a holiday let/AirBnB and an annexe. All of which are residential uses but are quite different in terms of use and policy.