Bevendean residents' anger over plans to turn house into HMO

The plans, submitted by Rivers Birtwell to Brighton and Hove City Council, would see 30 Bodiam Avenue, Brighton, turned into a six-bed HMO if approved by the council.

The plans show how the family home would be transformed to include a large communal kitchen/diner/living room on the ground floor, which would take up half of its space, along with six bedrooms spread across the two floors.

The HMO would also have a shower room and toilet on the ground and first floor.

Since the plans were submitted in November last year, residents have left a number of comments on the planning portal to voice their disapproval of the plans.

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One local said: "There is more than enough houses being taken over in Bevendean by students we don't need any more.

"We need more families in this area, our local school needs families not students."

This was supported by another resident who said: "We are in desperate need of family homes , the social housing list is so long and this house would be perfect for a family.

"There is also a local school that is suffering due to the lack of intake.

"Bevendean is overrun with student housing.

"We do not need anymore. We need family homes."

This same feeling was shared by a number of other commenters, with one person declaring that the council "need to bring famileis back to the city".

Bevendean residents also expressed their concerns about current problems in the area and highlighted the negative impact another HMO could bring.

These include increased parking congestion caused by an influx of residents and late-night disturbance from student parties.

Local residents also argued that local amenities such as doctors surgeries were already struggling and an HMO could make this worse.

One person said: "No reason to destroy a three-bed house and make it into a six-bed property (this would be done on the sole point of student housing of which there is too many in Bevendean and Moulsecoomb.

"Already not enough doctors to accommodate the amount of people living in this area as it is."

Another local said: "Once again, Bevendean is the target for student housing.

"This has a negative effect on the school, the doctor's surgeries, the neighbourhood. Increased parking issues."

Although Brighton and Hove City Council no longer name people who comment on planning applications, each of the comments left will be considered by the council when they make a decision on the plans.

A committee is set to meet and discuss the plans on February 7.