- Decision
- dismissed, 3 September 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: P D Sedgwick
- Authority
- Bexley (London)
- Appeal reference
- 6010832
- Application reference
- 26/00587/FUL
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Roof enlargement and change of use from dwelling to 7-person sui generis HMO
- Site context
- inside settlement
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- No Framework version cited
- Determinative policies
- Bexley LP DP11
- Development plan policies
- Bexley Local Plan 2023 DP11, London Plan D13, D14
- Main issues
- neighbour noise and disturbance
Summary
A seven-person HMO in Erith was dismissed for noise and disturbance to neighbours, even against a real-prospect fallback of a six-person HMO (DL ¶8-10).
What made the difference
The inspector found the seventh occupant produced a cumulative increase "significantly over and above" the current position (DL ¶10).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| P3 | fail | noise and disturbance from 7 occupants substantially exceeds a family household; the 6-person HMO fallback was given significant weight but the extra occupant tipped the balance (DL 5-10) |
Key facts
- Extant permissions for a 6-person HMO given significant weight as a fallback (DL 10)
- Framework not cited
Sources
This note is one of the decisions behind the NPPF 2026 Navigator, which shows how each Framework test has been applied across all the decisions in the database. Also available as Markdown.