Refused Havant road HMO plan returns to committee

The application is for 246 Havant Road, in Drayton and Farlington ward. It has been sent to committee because the council has received six objections, including from a local councillor.

The building is a two-storey semi-detached house on the south side of Havant Road. It was previously occupied by Drayton Cycles. It has a shopfront at ground floor level, with white painted render above.

The plans would keep a shop at the front of the ground floor, while converting the rest of the ground floor and the upper floors into an HMO for seven people.

The scheme also includes a new shopfront, with separate doors for the shop and the new residential entrance. A mansard roof extension would be added, along with a rear terrace and new storage for bikes, rubbish and recycling.

A similar plan for an eight-bedroom HMO was refused by councillors in October 2025. The council said it would reduce the amount of shop space too much, add pressure on parking, and create a poor layout for one bedroom. Concerns were also raised about the impact on protected Solent sites, linked to recreational disturbance and nitrates.

The new application has been changed. The number of residents has been reduced from eight to seven. The rear ground floor bedroom has been removed. The retained shop space has also been increased from 22 square metres to 34 square metres.

Local ward councillor Spencer Gardner said: “While I note the applicant’s reduction from 8 to 7 bedrooms and the slight increase in commercial floor space, these adjustments do not fundamentally resolve the material planning concerns that led to the refusal of the previous application in October 2025.”

Highways officers have raised no objection, although only one on-site parking space can be provided.

Officers are have recommended approval, as long as the applicant pays for Solent mitigation through a legal agreement.