A FAMILY home can be turned into a shared house after councillors narrowly voted for a planning application, despite dozens of objections from neighbours.
Those opposed to the plans included 29 Coldean residents, the Coldean Neighbourhood Planning Forum and all three councillors for the area.
They all asked Brighton and Hove City Council to turn down the bid from Henry Dorman, on behalf of Rivers Birtwell, to convert the property in Talbot Crescent, Coldean.
They objected to the loss of a family home with claims the community was becoming “unbalanced” because the area has a growing number of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
There were also fears that turning family homes into student housing or shared housing was undermining Coldean Primary School where pupil numbers have been falling.
Labour councillor Theresa Fowler, one of the three Hollingdean and Stanmer ward representatives, asked the planning committee to turn down the scheme.
She said Coldean was “suffering the consequences” of losing family homes to student housing, adding: “There is an HMO in close proximity and neighbours have to put up with parties and noise most nights which gets worse during the summer.
“There are problems with parking in the area and an HMO bringing in six cars will be a huge problem for this narrow road.”
But officers said there were no legal grounds to oppose the application.
The ward is covered by a rule restricting the conversion of family homes into shared houses if HMOs make up more than ten per cent of the homes within a 50m radius.
But councillors were told that just one property within 50m was a registered HMO.
The application sought approval to build a single-storey rear extension to create a kitchen, dining room and living area, with the garage converted into a large bedroom.
Conservative councillor Carol Theobald said: “It’s unusual to have 29 residents objecting. We were told this doesn’t affect the neighbourhood. But you’ve got 29 neighbours writing in – and objections from the Coldean Neighbourhood Planning Forum. I think there is a point of concern here.”
Independent councillor Tony Janio said it was frustrating planning rules could override local groups such as the neighbourhood forum.
Councillors voted by four to three to approve the plans.
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