COUNCILLORS have been urged to approve plans to convert a home into multiple flats, despite 10 objections.

The scheme would see the existing semi-detached house at 23 Clarence Park Road, Pokesdown, converted into a five-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO).

According to council officers, only eight of 143 properties within 100m of the site are in HMO use, meaning an additional HMO in the area would not breach council by-laws aiming to restrain such development.

Among the objectors, neighbour Concetta Corry said: "Allowing even more overcrowding of this road will help to slowly destroy the reasons that people want to live in this area."

Pamela Ruthvan of Boscombe & Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan Working Group said: "Single young people are not noted for their discretion when it comes to parties and noise both inside or outside in the garden, and the potential for disturbance affecting the quality of life of nearby tenants is highly likely in a small semi-detached house that was built to house a family not single individuals."

The scheme will be discussed by the planning board on Monday at 10.30am.