RESIDENTS have hit out over plans to create a nine-bed shared house in Southampton.

"Antisocial behaviour and drug use" are just some of the concerns residents of Malmesbury Road have should the application be approved.

The house, in Freemantle, was previously a house of multiple occupancy but the licence has since expired.

Applicant Nigel Atkinson of Coralstone Investments is seeking to have the house returned to a nine-bed HMO for up to 10 people.

Anonymous objections have been submitted to Southampton City Council due to concerns about "drugs and antisocial behaviour".

One resident said: "The property appearance is already unsightly, there is no garden space and tenants hang around the front of the property smoking drugs regularly.

"The building looks as though it has been incrementally added to over years to increase income to the landlord only, with no consideration of how it looks, how it affects the local environment or the impact it is having on neighbours.

"We have seen a lot of anti-social behaviour from the large number already staying in the property, including late-night arguments keeping us awake.

"Parking is a problem and we sometimes need to park in nearby roads instead of near our home."

Another resident added: "Tenants living at the property in the past have caused disturbances all through the night, keeping us awake many times.

"The tenants would drink and smoke on the front porch (due to the lack of a garden on the property) at all hours of the night, and would make lots of noise.

"Another reason for the objection is the lack of parking in the area.

"We often find ourselves unable to park near our property due to the lack of spaces which has been an ongoing problem for several years and one which we have made several complaints to the council about."

The plans state there are parking spaces for four cars, two motorbikes, and 10 bicycles.

A decision is yet to be made on the plans.