RESIDENTS and councillors are objecting to plans for more houses in multiple occupation.

An application to change a house in Brentwood Crescent, Hollingdean, is among those due to be discussed by Brighton and Hove City Council planning committee today.

The scheme has prompted criticism, with 26 letters of objection being sent by neighbours opposing it.

Hollingdean councillors Tracey Hill, Martin Osborne and Theresa Fowler have all objected to the change.

Labour’s Cllr Hill said: “Six adults living independently in a house of this size is overdevelopment.

“The house was designed for family use, a single household not six households and by changing the configuration of a house it is no longer for family use any more.”

Green Cllr Osborne, who has also objected, said: “I have chatted with a few of the residents and they don’t want the HMOs being built.

“I think in this particular case it is necessary to consider the views of the direct neighbours, especially the house that shares a wall with the property.”

Cllr Osborne said there were fears about noise disruption and also cited potential health concerns.

Labour’s Cllr Fowler said she empathised with neighbours over “parking” and “rubbish”, making it a “bad experience” for those living near HMOs.

The application is from Rivers Birtwell, a Brighton company which provides accommodation for students and young professionals.

Oliver Dorman, one of the company’s founders, said he “understood the sensitivity of the issue” and was “very passionate about providing the highest quality student accommodation in the city”.

He said: “There is a lot of demand for good quality accommodation for students and young people in Brighton who are treated unfairly because they are ostracised and looked down upon.

“The assumption that students will cause problems is fundamentally flawed.”

The planning committee is also set to decide the applications for HMOs in Norwich Drive in Moulsecoomb, Park Road in Hollingdean and Southover Street in Hanover.