Jeremy Moulton, who represents the Millbrook ward on Southampton City Council, is opposing the planning application of a house in multiple occupation (HMO) on Shirley High Street, on the site of the former Shirley Hotel.
A HMO is a property rented by at least three people not from the same household who share facilities like kitchens and bathrooms.
He said: “Personally I don’t think we should be having 14-bed HMOs full stop, well-designed flats would be far better for the area.
“It’s not a healthy living arrangement.
“The proposal is on a particularly prominent corner site, which presents its own issues with noise.”
The proposed development will add an extension to the first floor of the existing building and alter the roof, to allow the conversion into a 14-bed HMO with two ground floor commercial units.
Cllr Moulton is concerned about the noise the site will create.
He also added that as no parking has been proposed or planned for this site, he believes it will spill parking issues into the surrounding areas.
Cllr Moulton said he believes a scheme to develop the property into flats would make for a better quality of residential living on the site.
He said: “We have seen a lot of pubs sadly shut, but these have been turned into flats which would offer a better quality of living.”
The planning and rights of way panel will discuss the application on Tuesday, March 3, but council officers have recommended approval.
This comes after the applicant made amendments, including cutting the occupancy from 27 people to 14, replacing the takeaway with a retail unit and changing the design of the upper floors.
The internal layout will now have a restaurant and retail unit on the ground floor, including washing and drying and cycle storage facilities.
The basement area will be used as a kitchen to serve the restaurant.
The first floor will have nine bedrooms with en-suite facilities and a communal kitchen/dining/lounge area.
The new upper floor accommodation within the roof will have five bedrooms with en-suite facilities and an additional communal kitchen/dining/lounge area and small utility room.
The applicant’s agent was contacted for comment.