BASE HEADER

The New Local Plan should address two issues that are often closely related: [1] developments for university student bed-sit accommodation and [2] developments/conversions for High Intensity Multiple Occupation. Proliferation of such developments within single neighbourhoods threatens the balance of good community because it tends to create a demographic imbalance in which young adults predominate over other age-categories. It also creates an imbalance of tenure because conversion of houses and flats to bed-sits displaces other kinds of tenure and especially family homes. Over-development for student bed in the South of Leamington Spa is leading to an erosion of established community. Some local streets are increasingly marked by the absence of families and children. Established residents find themselves isolated members of a relatively transient population of young adults with whom it is very difficult to establish effective neighbourly relations over matters such as noise, rubbish, car parking, key-holding for alarms, parcel deliveries or incorrectly delivered mail. This pattern, which is already well established in some other British towns needs to be controlled with planning measures that will restrain the further growth of student HMOs in South Leamingt