A hairdressers and three-bed property near a town centre is set to be turned into housing for asylum seekers, after plans were given the go-ahead.

Change of use plans have been given the green light meaning a new eight-bedroom house of multiple occupancy (HMO) property will be unveiled close to Lowestoft town centre.

It comes after a scheme was lodged on July 1 for another home in the Lowestoft area to potentially be converted into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) property for asylum seekers.

A scheme was submitted to East Suffolk Council to convert the three storey, end of terrace Victorian property at 12 Beach Road into an eight-bedroom HMO which "will be used as accommodation for asylum seekers".

The plans centring around "Change of use of existing property, from hairdressers at ground floor and residential apartment at first and second floor, to eight-bedroom house of multiple occupancy" were permitted under delegated powers by the council on Wednesday, October 9.

A design and access statement submitted by agents Principle Design, on behalf of the applicant Patrice Elonge, said: "The property will be used as accommodation for asylum seekers (vulnerable tenants).

"Once completed, the property will be managed by Serco who will fully maintain the property and provide accommodation for asylum seekers."

With the property currently consisting of a "three bedroom residential apartment at upper floor levels and a hairdressers at ground floor level," it said 12 Beach Road "would benefit from modernisation."

Three people supported the plans, with three objections lodged, while Lowestoft Town Council recommended refusal of the application "as it was contrary to the Waveney Local Plan on HMOs in conservation areas and the application did not demonstrate exceptional circumstances."

'A dumping ground'

Yet despite concerns, plans were approved by the council - with the home and former hairdressers now set to be refurbished and handed to Serco, which will manage the property on behalf of UK Visa and Immigrations.

Concerns over the town centre becoming "a dumping ground and ghettoized" were raised among the objections, with one local "vehemently" objecting to the plans.

With neighbouring 14 Beach Road granted approval for an eight-bedroom HMO in July to be "operated by a local registered provider," one comment in support of the application said it should be approved as "it would help vulnerable single, homeless people."

A delegated report from the council's case officer said: "The design and access statement says that between five to nine tenants would occupy the building at any one time.

"It is considered that the principle of this HMO use represents an exceptional case, in that it would provide dedicated accommodation for a specific group of vulnerable tenants."

It said that Serco would inspect the property once a month and report defects, while also operating a dedicated 24-hour helpline.

It added the number of tenants would be controlled by a planning condition.