Plans for a seven-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Twerton have sparked a catalogue of objections and highlighted concerns that students are being prioritised over families in the city.
Freeview Road in Bath
A planning application for 53 Freeview Road has been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council by Rivers Birtwell, which specialises in accommodation for students and young professionals.
The plans for the semi-detached house, which currently has three bedrooms, include building a single-storey rear extension, external wall cladding and bike storage.
The applicant says sound reduction measures could be installed to reduce any potential noise.
The application states that there is not a concentration of HMOs in the area and there would be no impact to neighbours or the community.
If permitted, there would be a total of three HMOs within a 100-metre radius, which equates to 5.76% – within the 10% density threshold.
Freeview Road is next to Bath City Football Club’s ground, Twerton Park.
One local resident said: “We moved to this road in 2016 because it was a family area and houses were perfect for this. It makes me sad that yet another house is being turned into a HMO and reducing the supply of family homes. This is not acceptable!
“On football days we get a surge of fans bringing their cars and parking on Freeview and nearby roads. It’s acceptable because we knew this could be an issue when we bought the house.”
They added: “The planning application is for seven rooms, which means possibly another seven cars on the road. The residents across the road have to street park and it has become increasingly difficult to do so.
“There are too many HMOs on this road, please leave them for families, nothing against private renters or students.
“Affordable housing is few and far between in Bath and this is the perfect road for young couples/families trying to get on the property ladder.”
Another commented: “It’s clearly being adapted for student accommodation and there are already multiple student/HMO properties on this road (in fact owned by the same company).
“This prices families out of the area. In addition, it puts pressure on parking as potentially multiple, if not all occupants, could have a car, and parking is already difficult on this road. Residents are frequently resorting to parking on grass verges or mounted on pavements.”
One objector told the council: “I live in this road and there are already new HMOs invading a family-based community. This one would only be five houses away from another.
“This city is really failing young families from obtaining accommodation, even those brought up here. To use an old slogan very pertinent to this case – people before profits!”
Urging the council to reject the proposal, one resident said: “Just because Oldfield Park is now classed as ‘Student City’ driving out locals, please do not do the same for Twerton, it’s bad enough as it.
“The disregard for the upkeep of the gardens and houses become soulless. The council seem set on turning Bath into the next ‘University City’ and has total disregard for supporting the community.”
They added: “I have enjoyed my 20+ years living in this lovely, quiet street knowing my neighbours, and the thought of living in a soulless street surrounding by students just breaks my heart.
“Please do not let Twerton become the next Oldfield Park.”
Another critic of the plans observed: “The property is too small, even with a single-storey extension, for seven bedrooms.”
The planning reference is 24/03294/FUL.
