Information on Loughborough

New housing laws welcomed in Loughborough

Posted on 29/01/2010
newsdesk

New laws making householders apply for planning permission to convert family homes into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) have been welcomed in Loughborough.

The government has announced that from 6th April it intends to amend planning laws to deliver greater control over HMOs.

Local residents from the Storer and Ashby Residents Group in partnership with Loughborough Students’ Union, Loughborough University and Charnwood Borough Council have been actively campaigning for such a change for more than five years.

In that time they have lobbed Government ministers on three occasions and participated in national conferences and research programmes.

Presently, planning laws allow up to six unrelated individuals to live together as a single household without the need for planning permission.

Consequently some parts of Loughborough have seen a huge expansion in the number of family homes being “converted” to lettings, primarily in response to the market created by the housing needs of students.

It has been argued that concentrations of HMOs have left communities unbalanced, services and businesses have closed and young people themselves have become more susceptible to crime and anti-social behaviour.

Under the proposed amendment, planning permission will be required where a family dwelling is to be converted to a HMO for three or more unrelated individuals, giving greater control to the council to better manage the situation.

Councillor David Slater, Charnwood’s Cabinet Member for Planning, said:

“I am delighted. This is a victory for community action and partnership working.

“I should like to pay tribute in particular to the vision and commitment of the Storer and Ashby Residents Group and their partners in the national HMO Lobby from up and down the country who have campaigned tirelessly for this change. Congratulations to them all.”