A PROPOSED HMO in Newport looks likely to go ahead despite opposition from neighbours.

If council planners give the application the green light, as they have been recommended to, the property at 19 Temple Street will be turned into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

A HMO is a property lived in by two or more households - such as families or couples - and who share facilities such as a kitchen and bathroom. They are most commonly lived in by students and young professionals.

If approved, the Temple Street HMO will be used to accommodate five people.

Some 38 objections to the plan were submitted to the council, from residents of the 108 properties within a 50-metre radius.

In summary, those objection concerned the area not suitable for a HMO "due to proximity to [the] elderly, families and a school", as well as fears of an "adverse impact on community" and that there were already "too many HMOs in the area".

Critics also said they were worried about "fly-tipping and unsocial behaviour", a lack of parking, and a "greater need for houses for families".

Ward councillors Saeed Adan and Debbie Jenkins - both Labour - also conveyed their constituents' worries about the plans.

"Residents have raised concerns regarding as follows - lack of parking spaces, overconcentration of HMOs in the area, [and] fear of increase in crime, anti-social behaviour [or] noise nuisance," said Cllr Adan.

Cllr Jenkins added: "I would like to raise the points that have come to my attention that need to be taken into account when making this decision - parking, fly tipping, anti-social behaviour, [and] crime figures."

But despite the objections, council planners have recommended the HMO application be granted, subject to conditions.

Planning documents show officers noted the existing property could house five people, meaning the HMO plan "is considered to not represent a more intensive use of the building".

While planning regulations mean HMOs should not make up more than 15 per cent of the properties within a 50-metre radius, council officers calculated there were no other HMOs within that area.

"Therefore, the proposed use of the dwelling as HMO would not breach the 15 per cent threshold and is considered acceptable," their report read.

Additionally, concerns over anti-social behaviour could not be accepted by the council officers, because their powers were "limited to material planning considerations and will not consider the circumstances or likely behaviour of prospective residents".

"The proposed development is considered to be in accordance with the relevant policies contained within the Newport Local Development Plan 2011 – 2026," their report concludes. "It is considered that the proposal would not harm the character of the area, residential amenity, or parking."

Newport City Council's planning committee will make a final decision on the plans at a meeting on Wednesday.