Low-quality family home conversion could see planning permission needed

This comes following concerns over the concentrations of poor-quality houses with between three and six unrelated tenants sharing amenities in Bellingham, Downham, Whitefoot and Grove Park.

Current legislation allows a family home to change to rental housing without planning permission through ‘permitted development’ rights, according to a council report.

A council review found while there was not a significant increase in the houses in the borough, there was a change in the distribution of the homes, with high concentrations of poor-quality homes in the borough’s southern wards.

“The review concluded that whilst the data sets above did not suggest a

significant increase of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) within the borough, it did demonstrate a change in the spatial distribution of HMOs with a significant increase and clustering of HMOs within the borough’s southern wards.

“This was further verified by street surveys carried out by the council from

October 2017 focusing on three Lewisham wards Bellingham, Downham and Whitefoot,” the report explained.

The wards are “unsuitable” for the types of home because of their high-levels of deprivation, poor public transport accessibility and suburban character with high number of family homes, according to the report.

The high concentration of such houses can also bring increased crime, anti-social behaviour, noise and nuisance.

But The homes can also be an “important source” of housing for students, people on low-incomes and those seeking temporary accommodation, the report explains.

A recommendation to withdraw the rights to change a family home without planning permission in Bellingham, Downham, Whitefoot and Grove Park and allow the council to consult before the direction is confirmed will be put to the Mayor and Cabinet on January 16 next year.