A PARISH council is calling for all new student housing schemes in a York suburb to require planning permission.

Osbaldwick Parish Council is following up an unexpected victory last week, when a City of York Council planning committee blocked plans to convert a property in Thirkleby Way into student lets.

The unanimous decision to reject proposals for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) – taken against officers’ recommendations – used new national legislation giving fresh powers to local authorities.

The parish and residents had claimed the plans would have caused noise and disturbance, exacerbated parking problems and harmed the green belt. They said there were already enough student properties in the street.

A report by officers to councillors said the new legislation over HMOs was set to be changed by the new coalition Government in the near future, reducing the need for planning permission.

The report said it would, however, be open for individual planning authorities to retain control by designating “article 4 directions” in particular areas, which could remove the right to change a property’s use without planning permission.

“It is anticipated that this change will come into force in October 2010,” it said.

Now parish clerk Brian Lakeman has written to York council’s chief executive, Kersten England, to call for Osbaldwick to be designated under an Article 4 direction.

He said: “Following a robust refusal of the application by all councillors on the committee, it welcomed that a clear precedent has been set and council policy with regard to houses of multiple occupation has now evolved.

“While the decision is wholeheartedly applauded, the parish council are mindful of the potential amendment of legislation in October.”

He said the parish wanted to prevent the “line in the sand” it said was drawn last week being washed away in the future.