Plans to turn a house into a five-bed HMO have been approved despite objections from residents. Proposals to convert 215 Caerleon Road, Newport into a five-bed HMO (house of multiple occupation) have been given the green light by Newport City Council despite concerns over parking, overcrowding and the number of HMOs already in the area.
One resident objected to the development, saying the property was a small mid-terrace family house with two bedrooms and would be overdeveloped if it was converted to a five-bed HMO. "There are no proposals for any off-road car parking facilities and existing parking on Caerleon Road is nose to tail not suitable for increase," they said, adding that the parking related to the shopping area was considerable and "would make further parking impossible most of the day."
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Another resident who objected said the area had been overrun with HMOs in recent years: "Over the last few years, there has been at least 26 HMO applications approved, with 12 on Caerleon Road alone. This is totally unacceptable," they said, adding that they felt the area was "inundated with lots of anti-social behaviour, drug abuse and dealing from gangs of youths."
Another resident said there had been increased anti-social behaviour on Caerleon Road in recent years as well numerous parking issues. "It is a busy main road with lots of people parking to go to the Spar, two GP surgeries, two dentists and pharmacies etc," they said. "Besides shoppers, parents often park there too so they can walk their children to and from the nearby primary school and drop children off for the comprehensive school. On a couple of occasions, we’ve stopped in St Julian’s Court and I’ve stood on Caerleon road for 15 minutes waiting for someone to move so we could park."
There have been a number of applications for HMOs both in St Julians and the general Newport area in the past few months. In November plans for a five-bed HMO on Morden Road were passed despite 24 objections from residents. In recent months controversial plans to turn a house on Ombersley Road into a seven bedroom HMO were approved by planners, as well as a six-bed house in St Julians being given the green light in September.
Last summer WalesOnline reported on the city street which residents said was being wrecked by HMOs. We have also covered the Cardiff suburb which is home to more than half of the city's HMOs.
There were nine presentations from residents against the development and three in favour. Newport City Council granted planning permission on the condition that facilities for waste storage, recycling and bicycle storage are put in place, as well as limiting the HMO to five people.
