A "harmful" six-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) redevelopment has been approved for a three-bed Wycombe home despite objections and road safety concerns.

A proposal has been approved by Bucks Council for a change of use of the semi-detached house at 142 Herbert Road with a loft conversion to add two new en-suite bedrooms.

There have been 13 objections lodged against the plans, but the comments cannot be viewed, as public planning representations are hidden by Buckinghamshire Council.

The authority is one of only a handful in the country to restrict access in this way.

A council planning officer summarised them as including a "loss of privacy", "increase of noise levels and disturbance to neighbours", "lack of parking", along with "waste management, anti-social behaviour and environmental concerns including the number of future occupiers and bins required on-site".

The plan was called "harmful development that is out of keeping to the character of the local area".

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The proposal states: "The internal layout will be reconfigured to ensure communal living areas, kitchen facilities, and sanitary accommodation are provided to a high standard and in compliance with the Buckinghamshire Council Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)."

It adds: "The proposed loft conversion will be sympathetic to the existing architectural style of the house."

The plans say that the house's external appearance would remain largely unchanged.

The proposal concludes: "In summary, the proposed change of use and loft conversion at 142 Herbert Road will provide high-quality accommodation in a manner that is sensitive to the site’s context and the needs of future tenants.

"The design incorporates robust access arrangements, noise mitigation strategies, adequate parking and outdoor amenities, and safeguards the character of the area."

On January 30, Bucks Highways submitted a consultee letter recommending refusal of the plans "on highway safety grounds".

It stated: "The applicant is not able to provide adequate provision within the site for parking and manoeuvring of vehicles clear of the highway.

"The development, if permitted, would therefore be likely to lead to additional on-street parking to the detriment of public and highway safety."

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A council planning officer's report stated: "Under the Buckinghamshire Council's HMO Standards, it is stated smaller bedroom sizes may be permitted where a communal living room or kitchen with a dining area exists and the bare minimum of 6.5sqm in floor areas required for bedrooms for any persons aged 10 or above.

"In this case, all bedrooms proposed would meet the minimum size standards of Buckinghamshire HMO to provide for 6 bedrooms for the proposed HMO.

"In terms of communal area, the minimum required under the HMO standards would be 12.5sqm for kitchen and 15sqm for living areas.

"In this instance, the ground floor open-planned living and kitchen area has a combined area of 17.6sqm with a significant shortfall from the required standards."

They noted that the approval of these plans was not the same as giving an HMO licence for the building.

The proposal was approved on March 3.