New powers stop spread of shared houses

Manchester City Council is to begin using new planning powers aimed at stopping parts of the city becoming overrun with shared houses.

The new powers, set to be introduced in April, mean the City Council can begin to tackle the spread of houses in multiple occupancy - where a number of people live in the shared house - which have been a problem in areas with high student populations such as Fallowfield and Withington.

And the City Council's Executive group is set to discuss the best way of introducing the new powers during its meeting on Wednesday March 10.

Under the new scheme, granted after the City Council lobbied the government for more powers to tackle the problem, planning chiefs will be able to have greater control of homes being converted into shared houses in areas where this would have a negative effect on the surrounding neighbourhood, such as by causing an increase in noise and disturbance.

The new powers will mean the City Council will be much better placed to help control the impact of shared houses where this is needed and encourage the development of new managed student accommodation in more appropriate locations.

Manchester City Council Executive Member for Environment Councillor Richard Cowell added: "We recognise that students make a valuable contribution to the city, but the uncontrolled growth of shared student rented housing can change the character of a community as well as causing environmental problems.

"We welcome these new rules, which mean we can tackle the problems caused by the uncontrolled growth of shared lets and ensure communities retain the identity of their neighbourhoods. The growth of student accommodation can then be directed to areas that will most benefit communities, allowing neighbourhoods to develop in a way that is sympathetic to the needs of everyone."