Liverpool City Council is proposing stronger planning controls on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) through its new Local Plan.
The proposed policies reflect concerns raised by residents and would give the Council a stronger planning framework to assess future HMO proposals. The aim is to prevent excessive concentrations of HMOs in particular neighbourhoods while ensuring there remains a range of housing options available across the city.
Cabinet has approved the policies as part of the new Liverpool Local Plan to 2043. It includes powers designed to manage the concentration and location of HMOs across the city, supporting balanced communities and protecting the availability of family housing.
The new Local Plan sets the ambition for how Liverpool grows and develops over the next 17 years, guiding decisions on housing, employment, regeneration, infrastructure, transport and environmental protection across the city.
It will replace the current Liverpool Local Plan, adopted in 2022, and become the primary basis for determining planning applications once formally adopted.
Local Plans are a legal requirement for councils and set the planning policies that are used to determine planning applications. They provide a long-term vision for how places develop and grow, balancing the need for new housing and investment with the needs of existing communities.
By establishing clear planning policies, the Local Plan would help promote mixed and sustainable communities, support housing quality and provide greater certainty for residents, landlords and developers about where future HMOs may be considered appropriate.
Councillor Nick Small, Cabinet Member for Growth and Economy, said: “A Local Plan is about achieving the right balance between accommodating growth and protecting the character and sustainability of existing communities.
“We know residents have concerns about high concentrations of HMOs in some parts of Liverpool, and this Plan strengthens the planning framework available to help manage that issue.
“The policies are designed to support balanced neighbourhoods, protect the availability of family housing and ensure that future HMO proposals are considered in the context of their impact on local communities.
“By setting clear planning policies for the future, we can provide certainty for residents while ensuring Liverpool continues to offer a range of housing choices that meet different needs.”
