SERIOUS concerns over parking, invasion of privacy and fly-tipping have been highlighted to planning chiefs after blueprints to convert a property off Orford Lane into an eight-bedroom house were submitted.

Applicant Mere Hall Estates' plan to transform the Laira Street property from a 'first floor dwelling and out of use ground floor workshop' into a home with eight en-suite rooms has been met with ten objections from residents.

The design and access statement confirmed the firm wants to gain registration as a licensed house 'in multiple occupation'.

Bicycle storage space will be developed, if permission is granted, but no proposals for extra parking were made.

One resident objected because of the 'unacceptable level of overcrowding the plans will cause in an already well-built up residential area'.

She added: "I feel there is no requirement for additional housing in the area.

"Additionally, the parking on Laira Street is already at an unacceptable and unsustainable level.

"Please consider that if there are no parking spaces available then people will resort to parking in the alleyways around the property, something that already happens, which presents a real health and safety risk.

"Also, the current level of fly-tipping around the alleyways in this particular area should be considered before any further development of the area can happen.

"A plan of action must be in place to tackle the current issues faced by existing residents. Further densely populating the area will only serve to aggravate these issues and will have a detrimental impact to living standards for residents."

Another resident labelled the planned provision for bicycle storage as 'woefully inadequate'.

She added: "The proposed demolition and building work will have a huge impact on neighbouring properties, particularly those houses, like mine, that directly overlook the area.

"There are already concerns of anti-social behave in this particular area and I believe this would become worse given the anticipated temporary nature of the proposed accommodation."

Fears over added noise during 'anti-social hours' have also been submitted to the authority, as well as those in relation to a potential 'invasion of privacy' due to occupants being able to 'look straight into' rooms of neighbouring properties.

The council has confirmed any plans to use the building as a 'hostel-type' premises would require another application.

The application presented will be judged 'solely' on the documents put forward.

The consultation period ends on May 9, with the application expiry date listed as June 5.