Concerned householders have said the construction of a new "hostel" in a family area has taken them by surprise as they hit out at the city council blamed for "cramming people in".
A husband and wife, whose garden neighbours that of the house in Wilberforce Street in Headington, are arguing the council approved the nine-bed HMO (house in multiple occupation) despite several objections being raised.
This comes as plans were initially submitted for a 10-bed house on the 261.71 sq metre site but then re-submitted after officers expressed concern.
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Work on the house reportedly began last Thursday to construct a two-storey side extension and garage conversion after planning permission was granted on June 10.
The wife of the neighbouring residence, who did not wish to be named, said: "We only found out last Thursday when we saw some workmen in the garden.
"The builders were here last week and I was like 'woah, how did that go through'?
"They are changing it into something that is completely purpose-built - it becomes a hostel - they are putting in nine ensuite bedrooms and a kitchen.
"I also find it quite small for that purpose as there is no living space.
"They're working super fast.
"The application was approved without going to consultation again after plans were resubmitted.
"I understand Oxford has a massive housing issue but they have to be mindful of the area.
"Otherwise we are going to be completely overrun with HMOs."
The couple, who have lived in the house since 2006, insisted they were not 'NIMBYs', an acronym for the phrase "not in my back yard".
The husband, who is a social worker, said: "Where we live it's a family residential area.
"This is not a NIMBY issue.
"That house can never be used again as a family house."
A total of 12 letters of objection had been received by the city council from nearby properties in response to the proposal.
Reasons cited ranged from "crammed form of development" and "the area is predominantly family houses" to "the pub will be impacted as visitors would be unable to park".
Oxford City Council says a new application was not submitted after officers expressed concern about the initial proposal.
A spokesman added: "The application was amended, with revised plans reducing the extent of the proposed works, following concerns.
"Having reviewed the amendments we were of the view that it did not require further consultation."
An officers' report said: "Based on the room sizes, the proposal would be acceptable and would meet the space standards required for a large HMO for up to nine people.
"Officers note the concerns regarding the number of occupants and the impact this would have on the area.
"However, given that the application is complaint with Policy H15 and Oxford City Council’s Landlord’s Guide to Amenities and Facilities for Houses in Multiple Occupation, officers have no reasonable reason to refuse permission."
Liberal Democrat Headington ward councillor Mohammed Altaf-Khan said he was not aware of the specific case but understood "people will have concerns" and that "each street cannot have more than certain numbers (of HMOs)".
Dr Chris Smowton, also a Liberal Democrat Headington ward councillor, added: "There are certainly negatives to HMOs, though I note there are two important safeguards in place: their impact on on-street parking is limited by their restricted and sometimes zero eligibility for street parking passes, and the risk that they lead to a neighbourhood becoming overwhelmingly transient is ameliorated by planning rules that specify only a certain proportion of homes in a given area can be HMOs.
"I think the crucial aspect is having a responsible and responsive landlord, both to ensure the HMO is properly maintained and licensed, and to ensure any behaviour complaints are addressed promptly, since these can be particularly impactful when people are living in close confines, both for other occupants of the HMO and their neighbours."
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About the author
Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county.
She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.
Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi
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