Three family homes left on 'student' street

Christopher Wanche lives in one of only two houses that are not student lets in Sunbury Avenue

Owners of one of the last remaining family homes on a street "lost" to students have been given permission to turn it into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) having failed to sell it.

Of the 51 houses on Sunbury Avenue, in the West Jesmond suburb of Newcastle, 48 are rented out to students, mostly from Newcastle University.

Planning documents said there had been "negative feedback from potential buyers" regarding the number of student HMOs.

But, although the increasing student numbers across the city have brought complaints, one of the two other non-student residents on the street supported the application.

Christopher Wanche, who has lived on the street for 39 years, said: "There used to be lots of families in the streets and that has changed, which seems to have caused an issue in some quarters.

"But in fact our streets are very quiet for many months when the students aren't here, and we love them, they are friendly and helpful."

There are 51 houses on Sunbury Avenue, and 48 of them are let to students

A statement on behalf of the owners of 32 Sunbury Avenue, submitted to planners, said their attempt to sell it as a family home had failed, with negative feedback "regarding the number of student HMOs".

As a result they applied for permission for a change of use to a five-bedroom house in multiple occupation.

There were 17 objections, including one from Jesmond Residents Association, raising issues such as an "overconcentration of HMOs leading to anti-social behaviour" and the "loss of a spacious family home close to a good school".

But there were five comments in support, one saying the area was already "lost to students" and without permission for an HMO the couple "would not be able to move".

Permission was granted on 17 January by the Newcastle City Council's planning committee by four votes to three.