I have read all listed comments to date regarding The Comet article on HMOs in Great Ashby with great interest.

Of course there, as always, are two sides to this story, where on the one hand, there is a great need for bedsit accommodation in Great Ashby and on the other where a high density in one street of HMO bedsit properties, not only causes significant challenges for Great Ashby’s already overstretched parking availability due to poor development planning but even more worrying is the lack of any sense of community in these areas.

Merrick Close

I live in a Merrick Close spur, I purchased from new 10 years ago. The developer (Bovis), sold over 50% of the new properties to HMO developers in my spur. They did not inform me of this and I was expecting to live in a family owner/occupiers community.  These HMO properties were sold in whole blocks of houses, not even disbursed in my spur. As time has progressed even more properties have been sold in my spur to HMO developers. There need to be a Planning Regulation to bring Small HMO article 4 back in to regular planning application for place for Great Ashby by the NHDC as soon as practical.

Another potential issue with HMO’s is that not only can they remove a community spirit but as in the early years, in my spur, can cause outright public alarm! Where some bedsit residents have caused many disturbances, many requiring police or even ambulance attendance.

Issues I have personally encountered in the past include, garden furniture stolen, loud late night parties, inconsiderate parking, aggressive behaviour and littering. Saying this, to be fair, there has been a marked improvements in antisocial behaviour, after substantial number of resident complaints in recent years but still there is significant parking issues and definitely no sense of community.

Terry