A new scheme has been lodged that could see another home in the Lowestoft area potentially converted into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) property for asylum seekers.

Change of use plans were submitted to East Suffolk Council last month to convert the property at 22 Gordon Road in Lowestoft into an eight-bedroom HMO which "will provide essential accommodation for asylum seekers".

The mixed use property at 22 Gordon Road in Lowestoft - behind the bus stop - could be turned into an HMO. Image: Google Images (Image: Google Images)

The three-storey, mixed use property was previously used as a beauty training facility on the top two floors, with the remaining floors being used as an office.

A scheme centring around: "Change of use from an office and beauty training facility to an eight-bedroom HMO and the rebuilding of the existing rear extension," is "awaiting decision" with the council.

The plans lodged by agents Complete Planning & Sustainable Development Ltd for applicant Helen Parker said the HMO will provide essential accommodation for asylum seekers and "will be managed through the government linked company SERCO."

Documents said the property would provide "one bedroom housing for asylum seekers with SERCO."

The beauty training academy business "is no longer operating from the premises" and with the top floors empty, it added: "The property is in a prime location for a potential HMO and provides good quality rooms in a highly sustainable location."

The applicants said that the proposed HMO "seeks to provide high-quality accommodation that meets an identified local housing need."

With bin and cycle storage for the proposed HMO at the back of the property, documents added: "The proposed change of use of 22 Gordon Road into an eight-person HMO represents a sustainable, policy-compliant and socially valuable reuse of an under-utilised town centre building.

"No harm would arise to neighbouring amenity, heritage assets or the character of the area, and all requirements relating to parking, cycle storage, bin storage, and day-to-day management will be fully met through SERCO’s established operational framework."

A decision is likely to be made by East Suffolk Council in the coming weeks.

© Eastern Daily Press