HMO SHOCK: Leigh Park Family Home Could Become Eight-Bed Shared House Under New Plan

A quiet Leigh Park cul-de-sac has been dropped into the planning spotlight after a bid was lodged to turn a family home into an eight-bedroom house in multiple occupation.

The application, listed by Havant Borough Council in its latest weekly planning papers, concerns 1 Hinton Close, Havant, PO9 4BL. The proposal is for a change of use from a normal C3 dwelling into a sui generis eight-bedroom, eight-person HMO, with a two-storey side extension and a ground-floor rear extension also on the table.

In plain English: one house could become shared accommodation for eight people — and the building itself could grow to make room for the new layout.

The planning reference is APP/26/00201. The applicant is named in the council list as Mr Ian Thomson, with Mr Ian Knight named as agent. Havant Borough Council says residents have until 2 June 2026 to comment.

## CUL-DE-SAC ALERT

Hinton Close is not a roaring town-centre road or a strip of late-night takeaways. It is the kind of residential street where planning notices can quickly become the talk of doorsteps, school runs and WhatsApp groups.

That is why this application matters locally. HMOs can be a lifeline for renters who need cheaper rooms, flexible tenancies or a way into the housing market when self-contained flats are out of reach. But neighbours often worry about parking, bin storage, noise, visitor numbers and whether a small street can absorb a much busier property.

The council has not decided the application. The proposal is now in the consultation stage, which means residents, ward councillors and other interested parties can put views on the record before planners reach a decision.

## WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED?

The council’s weekly list describes the scheme as a “change of use from C3 dwelling to Sui generis 8 Bedroom 8 Person HMO” together with a two-storey side extension and a ground-floor rear extension.

That “sui generis” phrase is planning-speak for a use that does not sit neatly inside the ordinary use classes. Smaller shared houses can fall into the C4 HMO category, but larger HMOs are usually treated differently and normally need formal planning permission.

Government guidance says a property is an HMO if at least three tenants live there, forming more than one household, and they share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. A large HMO is one with at least five tenants forming more than one household and sharing facilities — and large HMOs need a licence from the local council.

This application is for eight bedrooms and eight occupants, so it is firmly in the “large HMO” territory residents tend to notice.

## WHY HMOs SPLIT OPINION

The row over HMOs is rarely simple. Supporters argue that shared housing provides urgently needed accommodation for workers, single renters and people who cannot afford whole properties in a tight rental market. Havant, like much of the South Coast, has felt the squeeze of rising rents and limited supply.

But opponents often say too many conversions can change the character of a street. The flashpoints are familiar: cars competing for kerb space, extra bins left out after collection day, more coming and going, and fears that landlords who do not live locally may not deal quickly with problems.

That does not mean this particular scheme will cause those issues. It does mean the planning process will likely focus on practical questions: how many parking spaces are proposed, where refuse will be stored, how the extensions affect neighbouring homes, and whether the overall intensity of use is acceptable for Hinton Close.

## EXTENSIONS ADD ANOTHER LAYER

This is not only a paperwork change from one housing category to another. The application also includes a two-storey side extension and a ground-floor rear extension.

For neighbours, that can raise separate concerns from the HMO use itself. Two-storey side extensions may affect outlook, light, privacy and the shape of the street scene. Rear extensions can bring questions about garden space, overlooking and the relationship with adjoining properties.

Those issues are exactly the sort of planning matters residents can raise — as long as comments stick to material planning considerations rather than personal objections to tenants or speculation about who might live there.

## HOW RESIDENTS CAN HAVE THEIR SAY

Havant Borough Council’s planning pages allow residents to search and comment on applications. The key reference to use is APP/26/00201.

The weekly list gives the comment deadline as 2 June 2026, so anyone who wants their view considered should not leave it until the last minute. Strong comments are usually specific: parking pressure at certain times of day, existing traffic pinch points, concerns about waste storage, impact on light or privacy, or support for the principle of more rented rooms if the scheme is managed properly.

Generic outrage is less useful than evidence. A calm paragraph explaining the actual street impact will usually carry more weight than a furious rant.

## DECISION STILL TO COME

At this stage, the Leigh Park HMO plan is just that — a plan. Havant Borough Council still has to assess the application, consider responses and decide whether to approve it, refuse it, or approve it with conditions.

Those conditions, if permission is granted, could cover issues such as refuse arrangements, cycle parking, materials, or limits on occupation, depending on what planners consider necessary and lawful.

For now, Hinton Close has a date in the diary and a planning reference to watch. The decision may be made in the language of use classes, extensions and consultation deadlines — but for nearby residents, the question is much simpler: is this the right house, on the right street, for an eight-person HMO?