AN APPLICATION to transform a former hotel in Alum Chine into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) has been withdrawn after resident backlash.
More than 50 residents officially objected to plans which would have turned the former Coniston bed and breakfast at 27 Studland Road into a bedsit-like HMO.
Residents objected primarily due to occupancy enforcement concerns as well as previous experiences with drug dealing and fireworks at other HMOs in the road.
Following the backlash and subsequent Echo report, applicant Maisone Ltd withdrew their application.
Following the decision, resident Colino Meah said “I think the fact we got the issue into our local paper and lots of people objected was really important. After the report came out I’d be walking around and would have neighbours come up to me and say well done for speaking up.
“I don’t think they thought they’d encounter such resistance. The reaction of most people has been thank god something has now happened.”
The site is now once again trading as an Airbnb and catering mostly for families. Colino added: “It seems to be doing okay. There’s no undue noise, probably because it’s transient accommodation as opposed to permanent. It’s great to start summer with nothing adverse affecting the road.”
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