Controversial plans to convert a Crewe family home into a 'cramped' 13-bed HMO have been refused with planners concerned about poor living conditions for future occupants and the impact on existing neighbours.

More than 50 letters were sent to Cheshire East Council opposing plans by Zeta Property Ltd to turn 37 Sydney Road into a house in multiple occupation.

A protest was also staged outside the property one weekend.

Planning officers, under delegated authority, refused the application for the change of use and extensions – which was part retrospective as a large extension has already been built without permission.

The planning officer's report states the high-density HMO use 'would detrimentally impact upon the character and appearance of the property and residential character of the surrounding neighbourhood'.

It says there would be 'significant and harmful' impact on the next-door properties 'due to its scale, massing and proximity to the boundary and rear habitable room window that will lead to an unacceptable, overbearing and dominant impact'.

The report continues: "The living standards of any future occupants would be inadequate when considering light and outlook for proposed bedrooms, and the limited and cramped internal layout of the shared facilities.

"It is also considered that outdoor amenity space would be poor and therefore not acceptable for the number of potential occupants of the HMO, also not providing sufficient or appropriate waste/recycling facilities.

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"In conclusion, it is considered that the benefits of the proposal in this instance are to be significantly outweighed by the poor-quality design and over-development of the site, harmful impact on neighbours, insufficient living environment for future occupants, inadequate outdoor amenity space and its harmful impact on the character and appearance of the wider area."

Ward councillor Hazel Faddes (Lab), who had objected to the application and campaigned on behalf of residents, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service today: "I'm delighted with this result.

"It's completely out of character with the rest of the area.

"It would have a detrimental effect on neighbours, a detrimental effect on people who would be living there and I am glad the officer has seen fit to refuse this application and I hope it goes back to enforcement.

"I will be speaking to planning enforcement to make sure this [the extension without planning permission] is looked at as quickly as possible."