A LANDLORD who flouted planning rules by turning a Winchester home into a ten-bedroom property has been refused permission for a second time.

The application was for the home in Stanmore which has been dogged by problems surrounding the number of student properties in the community.

Stanmore residents have welcomed the decision after the landlord was refused retrospective planning permission for the house on Cromwell Road.

The plan for the home was previously refused in October 2014 because of impact on the area – but the home still turned into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

The plan was thrown out after eight letters were sent to Winchester City Council objecting to the plan by the Sohal family.

They were concerned with noise and waste, overdevelopment, inadequate amenity space, loss of affordable or family housing and erosion of character of the area.

The panel threw out the application due to the impact it would have on neighbouring residents and lack of adequate parking provision.

Owners of Window Dressing Hilda Corbett and Helen Amies wrote: “We wish to object strongly to the planning application which we consider has a detrimental effect on the area.

“We have been trading from premises in the close for 20 years and have seen many changes none of which have improved the area. We are very concerned that so many houses are being purchased by landlords who then cram as many students as possible into the property. This results in overflowing litter bins and unkempt gardens.”

While a letter by Ian and Margaret Sharland also criticised the plan. Their letter said: “To all intents and purposes this application seeks to obtain approval for what amounts to the erection of an additional multi-bed residence in the existing rear garden of what until relatively recently had been a three-bed family dwelling.

“Allowing a development of such high density occupation in the area will surely create a risk of the flood gates being opened by owners and developers requesting the same approval for other properties.”

The Chronicle was told Mr Sohal was out of the country when he was contacted.