Parking concerns raised over Rushmere Road HMO plans

The proposal would see a semi-detached property at 36 Rushmere Road converted from a family home into a six-bedroom shared house, allowing up to six unrelated people to live there.

Many readers focused on what impact the development could have on parking in the area.

One reader questioned where future occupants would leave their vehicles, saying: “Where would they park because at least one resident would have a vehicle surely?”

Another commenter wrote: “Where are the six cars going to park? That part of Rushmere Road already has quite a number of parked cars on both sides.”

Others said parking is already problematic on the road, particularly at busy times of day.

One reader said: “Parking is diabolical on that part of Rushmere Road. Especially around school start and finish times.”

The property's location close to St John's Primary School was also mentioned by some readers.

One commenter said: “Victory Road is a few feet from where this picture is taken! St Johns primary school is on Victory Road.”

Another added: “Apparently they shouldn't be allowed to live near schools for some unexplained reason. What's wrong with that?”

Responding to the proposal, councillor David Ellesmere said the application was likely to be determined on its technical legal merits and encouraged residents to use the council's planning portal if they wished to comment.

He added: “Politically I think we have too many HMOs and too little control over where they spring up, but those wider problems aren't the fault of the applicant or their six new residents.”

If approved, the property would become the first licensed HMO on the road.

Ipswich Borough Council has not yet decided on the proposal.