Bridgwater is grappling with a surge in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), prompting its MP, Sir Ashley Fox, to urge the government to grant Somerset Council stronger powers to manage the growing impact. HMOs, which typically contain individual bedrooms and bathrooms with shared kitchens and living spaces, often add pressure on parking and alter neighborhood dynamics.
In a recent House of Commons debate, Sir Ashley Fox highlighted that Bridgwater’s council currently lacks adequate authority to regulate this rise in HMOs, which has been fueled by major construction projects, including the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant and a new ‘gigafactory’ near Puriton and Woolavington. He emphasized the strain this puts on local infrastructure, particularly parking congestion, and called for councils to be able to limit the number of HMOs in specific areas, including those with fewer than five occupants.
Despite these concerns, the government maintains that existing legislation, such as Article 4 directions, already equips local authorities with tools to restrict certain developments. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook encouraged Somerset Council to utilize these mechanisms fully if they have not yet done so and urged clarity on whether current powers are insufficient or simply underused or under-resourced.
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Somerset Council plans to build over 500 new council homes by 2030, focusing on locations along the M5 corridor. However, Sir Ashley Fox pointed to a lack of available social housing in Bridgwater as a core reason for the proliferation of HMOs, noting that developers often seek housing associations or charities to take over social housing units but face funding challenges.
The government has established a register aimed at facilitating transactions between housing associations and developers seeking to transfer social housing units. According to Mr. Pennycook, this register successfully listed over 4,000 available units before closing on June 1. Additional government measures, including rent adjustments and financial supports for affordable housing providers, are intended to accelerate housing development and alleviate local pressures.
As Bridgwater’s housing landscape changes rapidly in the face of significant industrial growth, stakeholders continue to debate the best way to balance development needs with community stability and livability.