Eastbourne shared housing plan is approved
Plans to expand shared housing in Eastbourne have been approved.
Eastbourne Borough Council has approved proposals for an eight-bedroom Home in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in Redout Road.
Council officers had turned down similar proposals for the same property last year, partly refusing the previous scheme on the grounds that an “increased level of activity” would have an unacceptable impact on neighbours.
Since then, the former guest house has been converted into a six-bedroom HMO using permitted development rights. This has led officers to consider an eight-bedroom scheme in a different light.
In a report setting out the decision, a council spokesman said: “It is acknowledged that the occupation of two additional bedrooms would result in some increase in comings and goings, visitor activity, deliveries, refuse generation and use of communal facilities.
“However, these impacts must be assessed in the context of the site’s established lawful use as a six-bedroom HMO. The property already accommodates multiple unrelated occupants and the nature of the activity associated with the proposed use would not be materially different from that which could currently occur.
“Whilst the level of activity would inevitably increase to some degree, it is not considered that the increase from six to eight occupants would result in a level of disturbance that would be significantly greater than that associated with the existing lawful use.”
The report notes other changes from the previous scheme, including improvements to communal facilities and the provision of enhanced cycle and refuse storage space.
The previous scheme, from the same applicant Steve Lusted, had also sought permission to have a self-contained flat within the wider HMO, but was considered to be too small by officers. This element had not been part of the current scheme.