Up to 14 could live in one HMO in Wisbech - but in another part of town an HMO could be turned into flats

Fourteen people – up nine – could live at 310 Churchill Road, Wisbech, if plans to extend the house in multiple occupation (HMO) wins approval from Fenland Council.

The council is considering an application to build a single level extension to the detached house that was officially recognised as an HMO only a year ago when a retrospective change of use was granted.

The owners promise a new access to three more parking bays to the three they already exist.

When council officers visited last year ahead of the retrospective approval, they agreed it met housing policies and accepted national guidelines that suggest HMOs traditionally need fewer parking spaces than owner occupied homes..

At 74 Ramnoth Road, Wisbech, the planning department is considering an altogether different application involving the ending of HMO status with a proposal to convert the house into four flats by adding a two-storey extension.

A design and access statement says the conversion would result in the ending of a seven-bed HMO and instead would create two two-bed flats and two one-bed flats.

“The proposal involves the demolition of a single level section of the building and its replacement with a small 2-level extension,” say the architects.