Councillor backs neighbour in questioning whether Wisbech house is suitable for housing so many people

A businessman is facing opposition from a neighbour and from a councillor over his bid to win retrospective planning consent for a house in multiple occupation.

Stewart Debnam, managing director of Debnam Brickworks Ltd, has applied to Fenland Council to continue multiple occupation of 41 Ramnoth Road, Wisbech that began in 2012.

But one neighbour has told Fenland Council she believes housing so many in the four bedroom house a step too far.

“There are quite a lot of people there – it is complete overdevelopment,” she said.

She said parking was an issue “and residents stand outside shouting and drinking at night in the warmer weather.

“It is generally overfilled with people and has been subject of a house fire recently as one of them had placed a heater underneath a camp bed in the front room which in turn caused a fire.

“This all causes me great concern and must in turn devalue my property, and in all honesty if I was looking in the area to buy I would probably not buy at the top part of Ramnoth Road as it’s completely overdeveloped recently.”

Her concerns are echoed by Fenland District Councillor Sam Hoy, who said: “I am very concerned at this as there are several parking problems on Ramnoth Road and this HMO has the potential to have six cars.”

Mr Debnam, 53, of Saffron Walden, is thought to have bought the house five years ago.

His planning application for change of use is currently on the Fenland Council planning portal.