00:00Student accommodation isn't usually built with year-round renting in mind but those living on
00:07Geoffrey Street in Gillingham could soon have dozens of new neighbours all in this one repurposed
00:15house of multiple occupancy. Plans for a 63-bed HMO in this student block here were approved
00:23without even going to planning committee locals now fear what this could mean for their community
00:31I suspect it will lead to even more villainy and drug problems there will be massive issues with parking
00:43because I think it's unfair on the students because obviously that would be a lot cheaper for them
00:50because there's enough to pay out for student loans. Plans have also been opposed by local MP
00:57Nashaba Khan who has written to the Chief Planning Officer at Medway Council to express her disappointment
01:06that democratically elected members were bypassed. Firstly I think we should be really carefully
01:12looking at every single HMO that comes forward in the Gillingham area given the volume that we already
01:16have. Secondly I do believe that student lettings is quite different in terms of how student lives
01:23their lives how they live their lives the the time that they they're in their community etc is quite
01:29different to how a 63-bed HMO for single person living could potentially be used by others. The change
01:36of use was allowed after JG Student Letts argued that falling numbers of students living privately meant the
01:45building needed to be repurposed with council officers arguing a HMO would not significantly impact the
01:54area and that it could actually be beneficial as those living there would be more invested in the
02:01neighbourhood but those arguments will do little to sway the naysayers who have lived here for decades
02:08Olly Leader in Gillingham
02:10Olly Leader in Gillingham
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