A councillor has described the growth of student housing in St John’s as “gentrification in reverse”.

Cllr Richard Udall said there is “significant concern” among residents at the growth of student accommodation and HMOs in the area.

He was speaking as councillors approved controversial plans to extend a HMO in Comer Road.

The owners of the property originally wanted to convert the existing four-bed HMO (house of multiple occupation) into an eight-bed property.

But after discussions with planning officers, new plans were drafted taking the number of bedrooms to six.

Cllr Udall said the original application would have been “dire for the community, residents, neighbours and the local area” and he was glad it had changed.

“That doesn’t mean I’m happy with it,” he told last Thursday’s (June 24) planning committee meeting at the Guildhall.

“There’s significant local concern about the growing influx of student housing in this area and the adaption of existing student houses to be even bigger student houses.

“There’s a lot of anger and upset about that, and people often say the words ‘it’s like living on campus’.”

Cllr Udall said some residents felt it was like “gentrification in reverse” in St John’s.

But he said the plans would likely be approved on appeal if councillors refused them.

Cllr Ed Kimberley said he has concerns about overcrowding in HMOs around the city.

“I’m looking at that plan and seeing six people that would have to potentially evacuate out of that building rather than four,” he said.

“I wonder a little bit about the safety implications about people getting into and out of that property.”

Cllr Lynn Denham there was a time more than a decade ago when the city council had practically no control over HMOs being built in Worcester.

“We have since taken back control - if I can say that - but the HMOs that are there, are there,” she said.

Cllr Louis Stephen said: “If we want to encourage more active and sustainable travel then we have to design it in.”

Referring to a lack of detail around proposed cycle storage for the scheme, he said: “I find it quite difficult to rely on conditions because if we are being asked to consider applications, I think as councillors we should see the plans. The devil is in the detail.

“If you want people to cycle rather than to rely on their cars then you need to have the detail right in the design.”