Plans to turn a three-bedroom Northampton home into a six-person HMO have been rejected after 85 objections were lodged by ‘fearful’ residents.

The application for 29 Broadway, Abington, would have seen the family home converted into a six-person house in multiple occupation, with a two-storey side extension and single-storey rear extension.

The plans were refused by West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) planning committee on August 20, despite planning officers recommending that they be approved, saying it would not cause unacceptable harm to the character of the area.

A total of 85 objections had been received, with residents raising concerns including parking pressure, congestion, the impact of HMOs on the neighbourhood, overdevelopment, disturbance, loss of a family home and the effect on residential amenity.

The application for 29 Broadway, Abington, (left) would have seen the family home converted into a six-person house in multiple occupation, with a two-storey side extension and single-storey rear extension.

placeholder image — The application for 29 Broadway, Abington, (left) would have seen the family home converted into a six-person house in multiple occupation, with a two-storey side extension and single-storey rear extension.

One neighbouring resident told the meeting: “My concerns reflect the 85 objections that were sort of just dismissed [by officers], but are significant, I think, and should be taken account of.

“Six unrelated independent people living in a property, coming and going at separate times is a significant change and will have an impact.

"I lived on a street where there were various HMOs, an increasing number of HMOs, that turned popular family homes into independent properties with people who have no vested interest in the community and became a transient population, and it changed the neighbourhood.

"I realise it's not the concern of this committee, but the perception of HMOs is such that people in the locality are fearful. They are concerned about the impact of this.

“I'm trying to sell my house and I've been advised that I won't sell it for the price it's at. I've been told to reduce it by £20,000, and it's unlikely that we'll get a family to live there. If that's not an impact on the – I don't know what it is. It’s such a lovely family house. I brought my family up in it for a long time. It seems a shame that families won’t benefit from that in future.”

He ended his address by telling councillors: “I hope you will reject this application.” They did.

The committee voted nine to nil, with one abstention, to refuse the application.

Councillors said the proposed two-storey extension would be ‘too dominant’ on the prominent corner plot and would have an ‘overbearing impact’ on the neighbouring property.

They also said it would harm the character of the area and result in the loss of off-street parking.