More students will be able to live in a shared house in Brighton after councillors granted the owner planning permission to extend the property.
Neighbours objected to the plan to enlarge the house, at 15 Auckland Drive, in Bevendean, with a single-storey extension at the back and a roof extension.
The plan is aimed at increasing the number of people living at the semi-detached house from five to eight, with extra noise and traffic included among neighbours’ concerns.
Despite the objections, Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee approved the planning application which was submitted by student property specialist Rivers Birtwell.
Having heard that the application complied with the council’s planning policies, despite reservations about how cramped the living arrangements would be, the committee voted eight to one in favour of the scheme at Hove Town Hall yesterday Wednesday (1 April).
Councillors and neighbours were also concerned about risks to the residential nature of the area and the balance of the community which has proved popular with students because it is close to the universities.
The Labour deputy leader of the council Jacob Taylor addressed the Planning Committee on behalf of concerned neighbours.
Councillor Taylor, who represents Moulsecoomb and Bevendean on the council, warned that more occupants could lead to more noise, activity and disturbance and spoke about the falling number of families in Brighton.
He said: “Lower Bevendean’s a beautiful place that’s nestled in the foothills of the Downs. It’s got a beautiful park and a school right in the middle of it.”
“This is a place where we can bring back families.”
Joseph Pearson, from Lewis and Co Planning, the Brighton and Hove planning consultancy, said that extending the property would not prevent families from moving into the area.
He said that the house had been a student let since 2007 and that four more occupants would not significantly reduce the residential feel that could attract families.
Additionally, he said, some houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) were being turned into family homes.
Labour councillor Maureen Winder said that HMOs had been converted into family homes in her ward, Hanover and Elm Grove, too.
As a result, the potential to provide another family home in Brighton through this property would still exist in the future.
Despite the reassurances, a number of councillors were worried that the living conditions appeared to be poor.
The bedrooms would meet the minimum space requirements, councillors were told. But several members took aim at what they said were cramped, dehumanising conditions.
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Mark Earthy said: “It’s a rabbit hutch for humans. I hate it.”
He pondered whether the living space was less than the amount of room that would be recommended for someone keeping a rabbit.
Labour councillor Tobias Sheard touched on the wider housing crisis, saying: “Young people up to the age of their mid-thirties are being shunted around the city and across the south coast.”
He added: “Everyone deserves a decent-sized bedroom.”
Student intakes are down year on year since peak in 2021, student lets are suffering, not a good time to be expanding student lets…
I’m a bit concerned about the cramping conditions in these kind of houses not designed around being HMOs.
Do we really need more student accommodation,?
Does this help the housing problem ??? or is this taking advantage of it by adding more low end product ??
If students do not use it the council will fill it with illegal migrants! Its a plan, wake up everybody! City of sanctuary needs homes for invaders!
Calm down Nigel.
Minimum bedroom size (UK planning / HMO rules)
For Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in England, the legal minimum room sizes are set nationally:
Single adult (1 person): at least 6.51 m²
Two adults sharing: at least 10.22 m²
Child under 10: at least 4.64 m²
These are absolute minimums, not recommended comfortable sizes.
What’s actually “recommended” for comfort?
Planning guidance and space standards (like the Nationally Described Space Standard) suggest more realistic sizes:
Comfortable single bedroom: ~7.5–9 m²
Double bedroom: ~11–12 m²+
So a room can be legal but still feel very tight—especially with desks, storage, and modern living needs.
🐇 Minimum space for a pet rabbit
In the UK, guidance from animal welfare groups like the RSPCA recommends:
Minimum enclosure (for 2 rabbits):
At least 3 m x 2 m floor space
Height enough to stand upright (around 1 m)
Plus daily access to a larger exercise area
That’s about 6 m² of constant living space, for two rabbits, not including extra run time.