West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has approved plans to convert a mid-terrace house into two self-contained flats, despite concerns over a “pattern of extreme occupancy increases” in the area.

The application for 119 Holly Road, Northampton, will see the property split into two separate units with a two-bed property on the ground floor and a three-bedroom flat on the first and second floors. Each flat will have its own lounge/kitchen area and one bathroom.

In total, nine letters of objection were submitted to the proposals from members of the public raising concerns with potential noise disturbance, litter, parking pressure and overdevelopment as a result of the new flats.

Speaking at the planning meeting, Holly Road resident Simon Exilby raised concerns that the project could turn into a “drip feed HMO”, despite them already being “surrounded” by high-density housing.

The application for 119 Holly Road, Northampton, will see the property split into two separate units with a two-bed property on the ground floor and a three-bedroom flat on the first and second floors Credit: Google Maps

placeholder image — The application for 119 Holly Road, Northampton, will see the property split into two separate units with a two-bed property on the ground floor and a three-bedroom flat on the first and second floors Credit: Google Maps

The plans had already been amended since the initial submission to reduce the upstairs flat from four bedrooms to three and instead provide a living room area for future inhabitants, after concerns were raised by one of the ward councillors.

Ward councillor Zoe Smith also appealed to the committee to consider “the pattern of extreme occupancy increases in other properties in this road”, pointing to a 14-person HMO and a 19-person HMO at both ends of the street. She also said there were numerous other flats and HMOs in the area, leading to “ever-increasing pressures and antisocial behaviour”.

The agent for the applicant told members that the proposal was a “straightforward conversion of an existing five-bedroom dwelling” into two flats, which he said represented “an appropriate use of a large dwelling in a sustainable location”.

He also said that the applicant, Mr M Uddin, is aware of concerns that the property may in future become a HMO, but said that was not the proposal before the committee, nor is it his intention.

Floor plan for the two separate flats Credit: Mr M Uddin

Debating the application, Cllr Sally Keeble said she understood residents’ concerns about the increasing density of housing in the area, which she agreed could cause “severe difficulties” for the existing residents, but said it was “impossible” in planning terms to object to the subdivision of the home into two flats.

The plans were approved by the committee.