A CONTROVERSIAL plan to turn a semi-detached home into a house of multiple occupancy was turned down in just five minutes.

The application for the house, in Park Avenue, Barrow, attracted a number of objections from nearby residents concerned about the perceived impact on parking and character of the area.

It was discussed at Barrow Borough Council's planning committee meeting, having been deferred twice, and councillors refused to grant permission for the conversion.

Gail Kelly, a nearby resident, attended the public meeting and spoke of her delight at the outcome.

She said: “I'm absolutely over the moon they've objected.

“These houses were built so close and they all look over at the back. I can see my neighbour in his kitchen and he can see me.

“We're a close-knit community and when it's just one family you do get used to it, but when strangers are coming and going it's a different matter.

“It encroaches on your lifestyle.”

The plans had been submitted by applicant Matthew Johnson to change the existing house into a HMO containing seven en suite double bedrooms with shared kitchen and living facilities.

There would also have been a studio bedroom with en suite shower room and kitchenette.

Committee chairwoman, Councillor Ann Thomson, had suggested earlier the council be “mindful to refuse” because of "non-neighbourly" over-development.

Some 25 residents had written to the council to object to the plans, with one saying: “I have lived happily on Park Avenue for the last 10 years, with a number of different neighbours on either side of our home.

“These properties are lovely, affordable homes for the larger family.

“The changes proposed will undoubtedly have a massive impact on the quality of our family life.”

Another objector claimed that a HMO would bring "crime, noise and bad neighbours" and said "it is not welcome in the avenue".

Park Avenue residents attended the meeting at the town hall to continue their fight against the proposal.

They had protested through Barrow before the meeting in February, where around 40 people attended.

Councillor Bill McEwan voted against the conversion, saying: “You can see by the number of residents here and at the last meeting and you can see why they've come.

“It is an upheaval to them and it is causing all sorts of problems for them. I support their objections.”

A number of HMOs have been approved since 2011 in Barrow, although many exist in former commercial properties.

The possible 16-person house would have been the third largest HMO in the town.

Planning permission is not needed, however, to install a six-bedroom HMO under current rules.

Mrs Kelly said: “It doesn't stop the fact that they can still do something like that, but it's a good result.

“The main concern is that it could have happened to anybody. We wanted to stop this happening on any other street.

“Hopefully, it has brought the issue to light and can stop oversized HMOs from happening.

“People's quality of life will be affected.”