Five Portsmouth HMO plans recommended for approval despite objections
Portsmouth City Council's planning committee will decide the fate of five HMO applications.
Five planning applications for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) have been recommended for approval at next week’s planning committee.
Portsmouth City Council’s planning committee will meet on August 19 to determine five applications for shared houses.
HMOs have been a contentious issue in the council chamber for several years, with opponents arguing they place too much strain on local communities, while proponents say they provide an affordable living option.
92 Gladys Avenue
The application to convert the property into a six-bedroom HMO was deferred at the last planning committee meeting due to uncertainties around the council’s threshold policy.
The policy stipulates that no more than 10 per cent of properties within a 50m radius of an HMO can be HMOs.
During the meeting, Councillor Matthew Cordy argued that a nearby property had not been included in the calculation and, if it had been, the application would breach the threshold.
Planning officers have addressed this in the report, reiterating that the information presented to the committee on July 29 was “carried out correctly” and “accurate”.
72 Ophir Road
Plans to convert a three-bedroom house into a seven-bedroom HMO were submitted by Applecore PDM on behalf of P Kumar.
The plans would change the Hilsea house to have two ground-floor bedrooms, three first-floor bedrooms and two second-floor bedrooms – all with en-suite bathrooms.
Some 28 comments have been made by members of the public, all objecting to the plans. The main reasons include the number of HMOs nearby, overcrowding, and undue strain on local services and infrastructure.
Planning officers have recommended approval subject to six conditions.
8 Cleveland Road
An application for a certificate of lawful development was submitted by Well Planned Ltd on behalf of N Rowe.
The plans seek to demonstrate that increasing the six-bedroom HMO by one bedroom would not result in a material change of use.
Councillors Gerald Vernon-Jackson and Charlotte Gerada have called in the application to the committee over concerns that the area is “over-saturated” with HMOs and that parking, refuse collection and sewage infrastructure are already over-subscribed.
The application was not decided before the deadline, meaning it has been appealed to the central government Planning Inspectorate.
Planning officers have recommended that the committee send its resolution to the Inspectorate to inform its forthcoming decision.
43 Baileys Road
Plans submitted by Applecore PDM on behalf of Rowelane Homes Ltd seek to convert a Southsea house into a seven-bedroom HMO.
The ground floor will have one bedroom, two shared bathrooms and a communal area.
The first floor would have three bedrooms and a shared shower room, with three more bedrooms on the second floor.
Concerns were raised by seven objectors over the number of HMOs, an increase in noise and anti-social behaviour, and a lack of parking spaces.Officers recommended approval subject to six conditions.
68 Montgomerie Road
The change of use application was submitted by Applecore PDM on behalf of Mr L Harmer.
An appeal has been submitted due to non-determination, so it is no longer the council’s decision to make.
The application has garnered seven objections, raising concerns over pressure on local services, the loss of “community character” and parking.
Council officers have recommended that the Inspectorate grant the application subject to six conditions.