A COUNCIL scheme to provide housing for rough sleepers will go before the planning board next week.

Bournemouth borough is seeking permission to convert the house at 24 Garfield Avenue to a joint residential and house in multiple occupation (HMO) use in a bid to tackle rising homelessness.

Planning officers have recommended approval, however the scheme has received 17 objections from nearby residents concerned with the impact on parking and fears about antisocial behaviour.

One, Caleb Clark, wrote: “Garfield Avenue is mainly private tennants and home owners and I do feel that turning the property into a multiple occupancy will encourage massive disturbance to the neighbourhood, including noise, rubbish and also crime in the area.”

Council officers said the proposed usage change would help the authority best meet the needs of rough sleepers. The report states: “There may be a need to house a family group of six persons in which case the C3 use would operate, or alternatively there may be a need to house up to six unrelated persons in which case the C4 use would operate.”

The report also claims the development will “potentially reduce parking demand”.

The board meets at 2.30pm on Monday, May 15.