Portsmouth councillors decide final HMO applications before planning rule changes

A series of House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) plans were decided by Portsmouth councillors for the last time, as the government limits what planning committees can decide.

Portsmouth City Council planners have refused several HMO applications at a recent planning committee, with concerns raised over parking, overcrowding and the impact on existing residential neighbourhoods.

It was the last planning committee before new government rules come into force on October 31, meaning routine HMO applications will be decided by planning officers rather than elected councillors.

92 Gladys Avenue

Plans to convert 92 Gladys Avenue into a six-bedroom house in multiple occupation were refused after councillors raised concerns about the concentration of HMOs in the area.

The application proposed six single-occupancy bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, alongside communal living and study spaces across three floors.

Councillor Russell Simpson said it was the third time the application had come before the committee, arguing that parking provision was inadequate and raising concerns about anti-social behaviour associated with HMOs in the area.

Councillors also discussed whether a nearby HMO fell within the 50-metre radius used to assess the council’s threshold policy, which limits the concentration of HMOs in an area.

The application was refused on the basis of the threshold policy.

10A Highbury Buildings

A proposal to convert 10A Highbury Buildings, Portsmouth Road, into a 10-bedroom HMO was supported.

The scheme would involve changing the use of a mixed-use shop and dwelling into a 10-person HMO, alongside alterations to the roof to create a mansard extension.

Councillor Peter Candlish backed the plans, saying the development would improve the appearance of the street.

“This will be a good-looking scheme that will tidy up that end of the street,” he said.He added: “Doing it at these end-of-terrace locations are about the best place to do it – I can see no reason at all how I can object to this.”

8 Stubbington Avenue

Plans to convert 8 Stubbington Avenue into a five-bedroom HMO were approved despite a call for refusal over concerns about overdevelopment, parking and the impact on local amenities.

The proposal included two bedrooms and communal facilities on the ground floor, with three further bedrooms and bathroom facilities on the first floor.

Councillor Lee Hunt moved for refusal, citing the scale of the development and a lack of parking.

However, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson moved for approval, arguing that the proposal met parking standards and was limited to five tenants.

The committee approved the application.

7 Beach Road

Councillors also granted a certificate of lawful development for the existing use of 7 Beach Road, Southsea, as an eight-bedroom HMO.

The application sought confirmation that the use was lawful for planning purposes under Section 191 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Councillor Lee Hunt said the property had been used as an HMO for around 20 years.

“What we have here is something that’s been used as an HMO for 20 years,” he said.

“There is no reason today not to confirm a certificate of lawful development.”

The certificate was granted.

12 Gladys Avenue

A separate application to increase the occupancy of an existing HMO at 12 Gladys Avenue from six to seven people was refused.

Councillor Lee Hunt recommended refusal, raising concerns about the configuration of the rooms and overdevelopment.

The proposal sought permission to change the existing six-person HMO into a seven-bedroom, seven-person property.

Planning permission was refused.

92 Chichester Road

Plans relating to 92 Chichester Road, Portsmouth, which sought to allow the property to be used as either a dwellinghouse or a small HMO, were refused over concerns about the size of the kitchen.

Councillor Carl Inman highlighted that the proposed kitchen was 17 per cent below the council’s space standards.

Planning officers acknowledged the shortfall but argued that the design should be considered as a whole, pointing to the larger living and dining rooms.

Councillor Vernon-Jackson suggested the council would have limited chances of winning an appeal because of the kitchen’s size.

However, Councillor Inman argued that you “cannot cook and wash in the lounge,” and the application was refused on that basis.

20 Winchester Road

Plans to use 20 Winchester Road as either a dwellinghouse or a small HMO were granted.

The proposed accommodation includes a kitchen and dining room, separate living room and shared WC on the ground floor.

The first floor would contain three single-occupancy bedrooms, two with en-suite bathrooms, while the second floor would contain two further single-occupancy bedrooms, one with an en-suite, alongside a shared shower room and WC.

The application was approved.

10 Norman Road

A certificate of lawful development was also granted for 10 Norman Road, Southsea.

The application covered the proposed use of the property as a small HMO, as well as plans for rear dormer windows, a single-storey rear extension and new windows to the front roof slopes.

The certificate was granted.