BURNLEY Council's executive has approved new controls on the controversial conversion of houses into bedsits to ensure they only happen 'to the right homes in the right place at the right time'.

Its meeting on Thursday night authorised an increase in planning controls over the turning of properties into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) taking effect in October.

After considering the findings of a six-week public consultation on the issue, the senior councillors agreed the removal of what is known as permitted development rights which currently allow a single dwelling house to be changed into a small HMO without planning permission in nine council wards.

An HMO is a bedsit property occupied by at least three people not of the same family with shared facilities such as bathroom or kitchen.

Currently a single house can be turned into an HMO for between three and six people without the need for planning permission.

Such conversions are often strongly opposed by nearby residents.

Under the proposals approved by the authority's executive, anyone wanting to do that in future would have to submit a planning application.

Larger HMOs are already subject to planning control.

Cllr Jack Launer, the council's health, culture and wellbeing boss, said: "This at least means we will have some control to ensure these are the right houses in the right place at the right time."

Green group leader and growth boss Cllr Scott Cunliffe said: "This has been a long time coming.

"We are not opposed to HMOs per se.

"This is not a silver bullet but we can now have some control on them. This is a good move."

The additional controls will cover the nine council wards which have the highest number of HMOs in the borough: Bank Hall; Brunshaw; Daneshouse with Stoneyholme; Gannow; Gawthorpe; Queensgate; Rosehill with Burnley Wood; Rosegrove with Lowerhouse; and Trinity.

The new arrangement is set to come into operation from October 2024 to allow for the legal process to be completed.