COUNCILLORS have approved plans to house the homeless in a Springbourne terrace.

As part of its homelessness strategy, Bournemouth council sought permission from its planning board to use the property in Garfield Avenue to house either homeless families or up to six residents.

Despite some reservations from board members, and 17 objections from residents, the bid was supported by five votes to three.

One resident, Tracy Smith, addressed the board: "I am not against helping people in need, everyone at some point in their lives needs help from someone. Families need support.

"But I object to where it is situated. Boscombe and Springbourne are already dealing with crime, alcohol, drugs and prostitution, do we need to add to the problem?"

Members queried why the council was seeking to use the building as a C3 family home use or as a C4 house in multiple occupation, and was told by planning boss Andrew England that such applications are common elsewhere in the country.

Senior planning officer Simon Gould said under other authorities the scheme would be dealt with through delegated powers, but Bournemouth has a special policy for HMOs.

Under this policy the number of registered HMOs in an area cannot exceed 10 per cent of the housing stock. The board heard the plans would not breach this.

Cllr Stephen Bartlett said: "This is a three-bed house which potentially in the C4 category could house six unrelated people. In a three-bed house which has got one bathroom.

"It almost suggests it will be used as a hostel."

Cllr Chris Wakefield said it was "downright disgusting" that a family home could be used as an HMO while "we have got families living in a single room".

"Surely we can use our discretion to refuse this," he said.

However Cllr Simon Bull said: "I have every sympathy with the residents, we have a similar situation in Winton with a high number of HMOs.

"This will be managed by Bournemouth Borough council who I'm sure will do a fine job.

"Just because people are homeless doesn't mean they are going to cause problems."