Lewisham Council received the full planning application earlier this year for the property at 7 Romborough Way, which sought permission to change its use from a single-family house to a large house in multiple occupation (HMO) for nine people.
The two-storey semi-detached home, currently used as a single household, would have been converted to accommodate nine individual bedrooms, each meeting the council’s minimum room-size standards for HMO accommodation.
Had it been approved, the site would have had refuse and recycling facilities, along with five cycle storage spaces.
Three off-street car parking spaces were also proposed as part of the development.
In documents submitted with the application, the applicant argued that the property’s high public transport accessibility level (PTAL 5) and proximity to Lewisham High Street made it suitable for multiple occupancy.
They added that the home’s position opposite a school and near busy roads made it “less suitable for family use,” claiming the change of use would therefore not harm the borough’s supply of family housing.
However, Lewisham Council strongly disagreed, concluding that the proposal would result in the loss of a home suitable for family occupation, causing “unacceptable harm” to housing choice and the character of the area.
In its decision notice, the council said: “The proposed change of use from dwelling house to large house in multiple occupation, by reason of the loss of an existing house suitable for family occupation, would lead to unacceptable harm in terms of reducing the availability of single-family dwellings and detract from the Council’s aim to foster mixed, balanced and sustainable communities.”
The council also raised concerns about parking and highway safety, arguing that the layout would lead to unsafe vehicle movements and potential obstruction of the public footway.
It said the application failed to show that vehicles could be accommodated within the site without posing a risk to pedestrians, including those with disabilities or prams.
Lewisham Council concluded the development was contrary to several key planning policies, including those in the National Planning Policy Framework (2024), London Plan (2021), and the Lewisham Local Plan (2025).
As a result, the proposal was refused on the grounds of both loss of family housing and inadequate parking arrangements, with the council adding that the plans would fail to support its vision for mixed and sustainable communities.
As of November 13, the applicant hasn’t appealed the decision.
