Shared house plans approved despite objections

A retrospective planning application to turn a family home into a small shared house was approved by councillors without debate.

Louise Gauld, 52, was successful in her bid to Brighton and Hove City Council for a change of use to convert 23 Byron Street, from a single home into a four-bedroom shared house for four people.

Neighbours had sent seven objections to the plan, raising concerns about sound insulation, existing noise as the building is already operating as an house of multiple occupation (HMO) and a change of character for the area.

The application was recommended for approval by planning officials when it went before Planning Committee on Wednesday 6 May.

There are 77 homes within 50 metres of the property, but only one of them appears to be shared house, meaning the proposal complies with council policy on the concentration of HMOs.

In the wider neighbourhood, fewer than two per cent of homes are shared houses, lower than the 20 per cent limit set by the council.

As no one was scheduled to speak about the application and councillors had no concerns they wished to raise, the application was passed without debate.