Havering Council blocks Romford HMO plan over neighbour impact
Refusal of 1 Princes Road conversion cites noise, disturbance and breached HMO guidance
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Residents of Princes Road in Romford will not see a seven-person house in multiple occupation open at number 1. Havering Council refused the planning application on 31 July, saying the scheme would harm neighbouring homes.
The application was submitted in May by Homz Planning on behalf of Phillip Maidwell. It proposed internal reconfiguration and a loft conversion to create seven bedrooms, with minimal external changes.
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Why the council said no
Planning officers concluded the scheme would create overly high levels of activity for a single-family area. They cited noise, comings and goings, and general disturbance as likely impacts on neighbouring residents.
The council also found the proposal breached East London HMO guidance. Room seven, located in the loft, would be more than one floor away from the kitchen. This fails to meet local plan requirements for HMOs, officers said.
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What the applicant argued
The application claimed the conversion would provide high-quality shared accommodation without harming the area’s character. It said all bedrooms would meet minimum space standards and external changes would be minimal.
Homz Planning stated the proposal met identified local housing needs and had carefully considered potential impacts on neighbours. The Romford Recorder reported these claims in its coverage of the refusal.
What happens next
Phillip Maidwell has the right to appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate. Appeals must be lodged within six months of the refusal date, which was 31 July. No appeal has been registered as of 12 August.
If an appeal is submitted, residents and neighbours will have the opportunity to make further representations. Havering Council would also submit its case to the inspector.
Questions this report answers
+Why did Havering Council refuse the HMO application?
Havering Council refused the application because planning officers said it would create unacceptable noise and disturbance for neighbours. They also found the loft room would be too far from the kitchen, breaching East London HMO guidance.
+Who applied to convert the house into an HMO?
Phillip Maidwell applied to convert 1 Princes Road in Romford into a seven-person HMO. The application was submitted in May by planning agent Homz Planning on his behalf.
+What happens now the application has been refused?
Phillip Maidwell can appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate within six months. If he does, residents and neighbours will have the chance to submit further comments during the appeal process.
+How many bedrooms were proposed in the HMO?
The application proposed seven bedrooms, including one in the loft. Havering Council said this room would be more than one floor from the kitchen, which breaches HMO guidance.
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