A CONTROVERSIAL plan for two student blocks with more than 130 beds in a Winchester suburb has been refused.

People in Fulflood were furious that JLW Winchester planned to build two blocks containing 28 flats, with a total of 134 beds on Greenhill Road.

The developer says warden-managed halls are preferable to students occupying rented houses, which have caused issues in other areas of Winchester like Stanmore.

The blocks are aimed at second and third year students and the scheme was recommended for approval by council officers at Winchester City Council.

However residents say that the area is already overflowing with students and the plans have received 133 objections.

The issue of students and where they live in Winchester has been an ongoing issue, with areas in the city like Stanmore having problems with homes in multiple occupation, but applications for student blocks being heavily objected to.

Within the plans there are just two parking spaces, and councillor Brian Laming said the lack of parking could cause “mayhem” when students arrive.

City councillor Ian Tait said there needs to be a proper policy about where to house students.

While councillor Kim Gottlieb raised a point that if it was private housing, the room sizes and amenity spaces would not be considered acceptable.

Jeremy Gardiner from JLW Winchester said the scheme is much-needed because of the expansion of the University of Winchester, and is an ideal site due to its proximity to the university.

He said students will be prevented from parking cars by a tenancy agreement which will be enforced.

The applicant admitted there had not been a wide consultation, which was one of the many issues residents have concerns about.

Residents fear there will be anti-social parking despite university students being advised not to drive in Winchester, and they have called for parking provision on the site.

Councillor Martin Tod said that there needs to be a policy on student housing and said called for councillors to refuse the plans.

Cllr Tod said: “Everybody agrees that Winchester will benefit from having dedicated student housing but it has to be in the right place with the right design, but in its current form I think we should reject it.”

Objector, Helen Dawson said:“The residents have valid concerns about noise disturbance and anti-social parking. The warden can’t be relied upon to protect the community because the planning conditions are not valid.”

Cllr Kim Gottlieb was one of six councillors who voted against officers recommendations to approve the plans.

Cllr Gottlieb said: “I think the problem here where lack of policy is creating a black hole, where we accept things for students and things we would not accept for other applicants.”

Cllr Jane Rutter also objected and described it as an “overdevelopment” and “too dense”.

While Cllr Ian Tait supported the plans due its location. Cllr Tait said: “They are a very successful provider of student accommodation, they know what they are doing and the issues of students has been positive.

“My wider frustration, is we should have clearer policies as a city of where we deliver student accommodation.”

“I think what we have in front of us is a good application.”

Three councillors voted in favour and six against the plans.

However some councillors warned the victory for residents may only be a temporary as the application could be approved by the Planning Inspectorate if the JLW Winchester choose to appeal.

JLW Winchester, refused to say whether they will appeal.