3 Lawson Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 1SD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• The effect of the proposed seven-person House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) on local character and the existing mix and balance of households in the local community
• whether the proposal would provide acceptable living conditions for its occupants
• the effect on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties, with particular regard to noise and disturbance
• the effect on the Solent European Designated Sites

What decided it

The lawful fallback position of six-person occupancy under Class C4, which meant the proposed increase to seven residents would result in only one additional occupant and thus would not materially change the existing mix and balance of households or significantly harm neighbouring amenity.

the benefits of allowing the development in accordance with the adopted development plan, with mitigation secured for European Site impacts, outweighed the concerns about HMO concentration, as the one-person occupancy increase beyond the existing lawful use would not materially change the character or amenity of the area