PLANS have been submitted to convert a detached home in Winton into an eight bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO).

The property, at 2 St Albans Avenue on the corner with Charminster Road, was the subject of a similar application last year - at that time nine bedrooms were proposed - but the scheme was rejected by Bournemouth council.

The case officer's report said the plans were "over-intensive" and "harmful to the character and appearance of the area", and "detrimental to the living conditions of neighbouring residents and future occupiers".

However, the present application submitted by HLF Planning Ltd says the property has since been refurbished to diffuse these criticisms.

"The reasons for refusal have been considered and it was deemed that the most appropriate way forwards was to reduce the number of bedrooms to eight and release the ground floor rear room to be used as a communal lounge," the application states.

"This would have the twin benefit of reducing the intensification of the proposed use and improving the living conditions for future occupiers."

According to council policy new HMOs will not be granted permission if more than 10 per cent of properties in the vicinity are also HMOs, however planning officers found only two out of 59 properties within 100m of the site had that usage.

Planning permission was granted last year for an extension into the property's roof space. The application says the building has 14 rooms, including three bathrooms and two kitchens, and was previously used as a six-room HMO for more than a decade.