PLANS have been lodged to convert a property in Barrow into a seven-bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO).

Phantom Property Solutions Ltd has submitted a planning application to Westmorland and Furness Council to convert a house on Ramsden Street into an HMO.

According to the application form, the proposed HMO will consist of seven bedrooms and can accommodate eight people.

Planning documents show the property currently consists of five bedrooms and the applicant states only ‘internal alterations’ will be required to turn the house into a seven-bedroom HMO.

Plans show the proposed HMO will consist of seven en-suite bedrooms, a cycle store for six bikes, a living/dining area and a yard.

This application comes after plans to transform the former Costello’s Bar into an eight-bedroom HMO and proposals to convert a four-bedroom house into a seven bedroom HMO, both on Ramsden Street, were approved in October 2023.

Both planning applications were given the green light by the Barrow in Furness local area planning committee.

The application to convert the former bar into a HMO received seven objections and a petition against the development had 14 signatures.

READ MORE: Former Costello's bar in Barrow to be converted into HMO

According to the report prepared for the planning committee, objectors said: “Almost every empty property is being bought by out-of-town developers to turn them into HMOs with complete disregard to local communities living in the area. Current HMOs are allegedly a source of anti-social behaviour.”

Mark Carroll, an agent speaking on behalf of applicant Sam Rowles, attempted to ease concerns over potential anti-social behaviour from the HMO, at the committee meeting in October 2023.

He said: “The previous use must have caused some noise and probably contributed to some anti-social behaviour in the past. Concerns have been made about the change in use and anti-social behaviour however this property will be aimed at professionals such as doctors, nurses and BAE staff.”

Mr Carroll also spoke about the potential positive impact on the community the HMO would have and said tenants would shop in the local area.

He added there would be the ‘huge benefit’ of the property not being derelict which would otherwise contribute to anti-social behaviour. According to Mr Carroll police have already been called out to this property due to anti-social behaviour.

Plans to convert the four-bedroom house into a seven bedroom HMO also faced opposition with objectors stating the ‘loss of a family home’ and ‘the potential for noise and fly tipping’ as reasons for opposing the plans.

READ MORE: Plans to transform a former ‘family home’ into HMO in Barrow approved

However, planning officers allayed concerns over noise and other anti-social behaviour in the report prepared for the meeting.

The report states: “This will be a licensed HMO, there will be a requirement under the license that the property is properly managed. The neighbours will be given the contact information for the agent should there be any issue with the future tenants. This should be sufficient to address any concerns and ensure they are dealt with.”

The report also addressed objectors concerns on the number of HMOs in the area, pointing out it brings ‘considerable inward investment’ into the area.

It said: “The market is reacting to demand and the availability of larger houses is offering a solution to that demand.

“This is a positive step as it is resulting in considerable inward investment to the town centre periphery area, whereby houses in poor condition are being renovated, and local suppliers and tradespersons are also benefiting.

“The alternative is that these houses remain in poor condition, often empty and attracting anti-social behaviour, which in turn, could be argued, leads to a loss of social and community cohesion.”

The application to covert the property at 88 Ramsden Street is undergoing public consultation.