A CORRINGHAM guest house is set to be turned into a 17-bedroom House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO).

Thurrock Council planning officers have given the go ahead for a change of use for the property called Gower Lodge in Herd Lane. When the application wsa submitted earlier this year, officers were informed the building would be used as accomodation for students at nearby Performers College. The submission said: "Initially, the applicant intends to let the property to Performers' College students.

"However, the proposal is specifically not purpose-built student accommodation to allow for future flexibility to respond to the locality's potentially changing housing demands."

A design and access statement relating to the proposal can be read via this link.

Applicant, Quest Property Group Ltd also has the go ahead to install a new external staircase on the building close to the junction with Fobbing Road.

The site is close to the nearby Corringham Conservation area and Metropolitan Green Belt. but does not fall within them.

The exterior of the building would remain unchanged with the exception of the south-facing side where an external staircase would be sited along with a new external doorway at first floor level. The staircase is in addition to one at the rear of the building but is not considered harmful to the character or appearance of the building.

The guest house currently provides 16 guest bedrooms across two floors.

The applications shows the ground floor would have a communal utility room, kitchen, lounge and dining area with access to the rear garden. A total of seven bedrooms would be on the ground floor, all with ensuites. A further ten bedrooms would be sited on the first floor. These would all have ensuites with an additional communal shower room.

"The proposal would allow for "up to and not exceeding 17 occupants".

A report by planning officers said: "Considering the existing lawful use as a guest house, the proposed use as a larger HMO would not be considered to result in an increase in activity across the site.

"While the proposed number of bedrooms within the building would be greater than the current provision, the manner in which the building would be accessed would be similar and more akin to that of a large single dwelling. Therefore, the proposal would not be likely to result in a detrimental impact upon the wider area as a consequence. 

"The exterior of the host building would not be altered as a result of the proposal. The resulting visual impacts would be acceptable in terms of design and appearance and would not be detrimental to the character of the site.

"Suitable residential provisions would be provided for future occupiers in terms of internal amenity space.

"Neighbouring amenity would not be impacted above what is already experienced by virtue of the site operating as a guest house. Parking provision is deemed acceptable."

Concerns about the use of the building in the future have been expressed on social media by residents, with concerns that the property might be used to house asylum seekers. Though the applicants specified the potential use of the rooms for students, no planning conditions have been set on the nature of occupants by the council.

The operators will have to apply for a licence to Thurrock Council to run the building as an HMO.

A spokesperson for Essex Police's 'designing out crime team' contributed to the debate about the property, asking to be included in discussion with the applicants and saying: "We note the reference within the application to potential use as accommodation linked to the local Performers College and as potential accommodation for workers connected with the expansion of DP World London Gateway.

"Whilst we understand that the applicant recognises that the accommodation is not to be specifically designed for the Performers College students, we would like to stress that accommodation for students and the way the house is used will be very different to the use by construction workers.

"We therefore highlight the need for the applicant to understand that good HMO design must adequately control security risks (without compromising fire safety). "