The Heart of Eastleigh campaign has been organised by local neighbours. It is an inclusive group promoting a better standard of living for all residents in the area - We are not part of or affiliated with any political party or their views.
Protect the Heart of Eastleigh from OVER development
Ensure Eastleigh stays a town with a high quality of living where people can thrive
Developers are snapping up 2–3 bed homes and transform them into high-density HMOs — House in Mutiple Occupation - often in a matter of weeks.
No real consultation. No warning. No say.
Get Involved - Speak Up - Share This
Because once our community is gone, we don't get it back!
Streets crammed with cars — unsafe, stressful, nowhere to park
Rise in fly-tipping and overflowing bins
Noise, overcrowding, and loss of privacy
Fewer family homes — less stability, less community
Stronger planning controls
Proper scrutiny of ALL HMOs
Action NOW — not when it’s too late
A decent standard of living for those in HMO's
Even the Town Council has raised concerns
But action is being delayed
We belelive an Article 4 direction is required.
An Article 4 Direction is a specific and targted planning regulation issued by a local council that removes your "permitted development rights". This means you must apply for formal planning permission for specific alterations or changes of use that would normally be allowed without an application. Currently a 6 bed HMO DOES NOT REQUIRE PLANNING PERMISSION in the Eastleigh Borough!
Local authorities use Article 4 Directions to protect the unique character, appearance, or wellbeing of an area. They do not stop development completely; they simply give the council the power to review and approve proposals.
An Article 4 has already been adopted by Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils. This makes Eastleigh an easy target and promoted as a 'Soft Touch' by developers.
Developers are snapping up 2–3 bed homes and transform them into high-density HMOs
No real consultation. No warning. Rushed planning permissions. Poor communication.
HMOs in Eastleigh have jumped from 77 to 99 in just 2 years
88% are now concentrated in ONE central area - No balance
Not only is the developer of no. 41 documenting this conversion via social media & selling workshops to 'show people how'
but also..
This website for HMO developers explains why the relaxed planning regulations make it a 'profitable target' for overdevelopement.
Threats from developer to neighbours to cooperate or else
Portaloos in the front garden left open for any passers by to use
Full steam ahead with 8 bed set up before permission granted
Noisy building works over the weekend and bank holidays
Having to contact a bewildering array of departments to raise concerns with
'WE'RE FUMING' Channel 4 star dubbed ‘alpha male’ in neighbour row after threatening to turn house into HMO for migrants or prisoners
Published: 22:18, 13 Mar 2026
Read More.....
Becuase of the noise that the local residents made, the change from a 6 bed to an 8 bed HMO was refused by Eastleigh Borough Council.
Despite threats from the developer that he was "going to win at appeal", the application was refused on the grounds of
over intensification
harmful living conditions
poor provision of internal communal facilities
absence of sufficient on-site parking provision
likely to result in increased demand for on-street parking
adverse impact on highway safety through indiscriminate parking
Contact heartofeastleighcampagin@gmail.com
If you'd like to get more involved, have skills that may be helpful or can spare some time to raise awareness by putting up posters and the like, we'd love to hear from you.