DEVELOPERS planning to develop HMOs are to face tougher scrutiny in three areas of Crewe.

Cheshire East Council previously announced it was removing permitted development rights for changes of use of dwellings to small houses in multiple occupation around Nantwich Road, Hungerford Road and West Street.

The authority canvassed residents' views via an online survey and received 49 replies, mainly supportive of the new policies which were confirmed by the council's strategic planning committee this week.

Concerns were raised that HMOs can change an area's character, increase demand on services and cause conflicts with the local community.

Among the calls from the residents who took part in the survey, along with Crewe Town Council and Cheshire Police, were that HMOs should be limited to five per cent of dwellings in one street and that issues such as car parking, waste, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour should be tackled.

But some respondents also noted there was still a need for HMO accommodation and the directions might impact supply and drive up rent levels in Crewe.

Cllr Steve Hogben says that 42 per cent of HMOs in the borough are in his Crewe South ward.

He told the committee: "This is long overdue in Crewe South, which has the greatest concentration of HMOs in the borough. I hope that the measures will at least ensure decent living conditions for future tenants of HMOs and help to improve the local environment for its existing residents."

Fellow Crewe councillor Anthony Critchley said: "The issues are well-known and problems with waste are not going to go away overnight, but this will help."

The directions voted in by councillors do not prevent HMOs being created. Planning applications will need to be made to convert homes into small HMOs, but the directions will enable the council to assess them against its planning policies.

The committee's vice-chairman, Cllr Stewart Gardiner, said: "I think there is a problem that needs resolving and this is a very good tool in the armoury."