RESIDENTS have hit out over "disappointing and disheartening" plans to create a seven-bed shared home in a Southampton neighbourhood.

Those living in Wilton Avenue have objected to plans to build an extension onto an already existing house of multiple occupancy.

Five anonymous objection letters have been submitted to Southampton City Council alongside the plans.

Residents claim that the HMO extension will create "overcrowding" in the Polygon area.

One resident said: "This is so disappointing and disheartening when again we see the Polygon continuing to be saturated with ugly extended rooms to let.

"And not just to fill the capacity of the typical size of the homes here but to continuously extend them.

"The impact is inevitably on residents. Extra rooms on traditionally built Victorian homes are not only ugly but exacerbate the lack of parking availability and impact on our green space. Already an issue."

Another said: "I object on the grounds that these plans contribute to the overcrowding of the Polygon neighbourhood.

"Not only do these plans encourage overdevelopment, but they also prevent the future use of the property being adopted by diverse users such as families and young professional renters.

"The integrity and heritage of the area has not been considered, and the architecture of this property is being unreasonably compromised.

"Additional individual renters exponentially impact our parking and waste collection services which are already strained beyond capacity. We need to focus on encouraging longer-term residents who will invest in the upkeep of the area."

The two-storey home is currently a six-bed HMO with two bedrooms on the ground floor and four bedrooms on the first floor.

The plans seek permission to erect a rear dormer to make room for a seventh bedroom.

The plans have been submitted by Mr Durrant of Rocks Lane in Barnes.

A decision is yet to be made by the city council on the plans.