Objections are mounting over contentious plans for a HMO (house in multiple occupation) on a Newport street where neighbours say parking is already a “major issue daily.”
Plans to change the use of the four-bedroom home in Fairoak Avenue, Newport, into a nine-bedroom HMO were rejected by Newport council in January over highways concerns.
Now re-submitted plans to turn the home into a seven-bedroom HMO have once again prompted concern from neighbours.
Under the plans, two bedrooms would be provided on the ground floor, along with a living room and kitchen.
The remaining five bedrooms would be located upstairs, along with a bathroom.
A design and access statement says an enlarged parking area is proposed which will provide off-road parking for five cars, three motorbikes and six bikes.
The proposal will increase parking demand on the street by five spaces.
A survey has been submitted by the applicant to show that “sufficient off street parking spaces are available in the area to accommodate the additional parking demand.”
But several neighbours in the area have objected to the scheme, with concerns the road has “a major parking issue daily” already.
“Fairoak Avenue is already a busy and congested road,” one objector says.
“This additional concentration of traffic and roadside parking will cause traffic problems and create a safety hazard for other motorists and school children.”
Another objector says they “regularly cannot park in the road at peak times” and that a lot of parking is restricted to residents only.
“We feel there are more than enough multi-occupied properties in this avenue,” they add.
“To grant more would be detrimental to the current situation.”
But the plans say there are no HMOs within a 50m radius of the property.
It also points out the house is situated close to public transport links and services in Maindee, and that the occupants are “less likely to have cars” given the nature of the proposed use.
The plans will be assessed by Newport City Council in the coming months.
