Council leaders have backed new controls on houses in multiple occupation in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is proposing to remove permitted development rights for small HMOs across most areas of the borough, meaning all new conversions will require planning permission.

At the moment, houses can be turned into HMOs for up to six unrelated people without a planning application.

Cabinet members at the Reform UK-led council voted in favour of an Article 4 direction to remove the permitted development rights in 14 of Newcastle's 21 wards.

They say this will give councillors and local people more control over the spread of HMOs, which have been linked to problems with anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and on-street parking in various parts of the borough.

The remaining seven wards, which mostly cover rural areas, will not be affected by the change, although the council says it will keep this under review.

The final decision to make the Article 4 direction with immediate effect will be taken at full council next month.

Council leader Jonathan Gullis said: "This is an extremely important piece of work that many residents have been crying out for, for a long time.

"It's not a silver bullet, and it doesn't guarantee that no HMOs will be created. But what it does do is give power back to those who the people have elected.

"It will ensure that HMOs are in line with the policies of the local plan, and that we don't have an over-concentration in certain areas.

"HMOs are a strain on public services. They attract more litter and fly-tipping and additional anti-social behaviour."

Allan Clarke, interim head of service, told the cabinet meeting that the Article 4 direction would be subject to a statutory six week consultation, before being confirmed.

He emphasised the fact that the new controls would not be retrospective, meaning existing HMOs will not be affected.

Mr Clarke said: "The proposals would not prohibit HMOs but would require planning permission for such schemes, so they can be considered against policies and the council's recently adopted local plan, alongside any other material considerations."

The article 4 direction will cover the following wards: Kidsgrove and Ravenscliffe, Talke and Butt Lane, Crackley & Red Street, Cross Heath, Bradwell, Holditch and Chesterton, Wolstanton, May Bank, Knutton, Silverdale, Thistleberry, Westlands, Clayton and Town.

Permitted development rights for small HMOs will continue in Audley, Keele, Loggerheads, Madeley and Betley, Maer and Whitmore, Newchapel and Mow Cop, and Westbury Park and Northwood.

According to a council report setting out the case for the Article 4 direction, Newcastle's urban areas are 'attractive to HMO conversion' due to the number of terraced properties and relatively low house prices.

The report says that concentrations of HMOs can place 'additional pressure on residential amenity and community wellbeing', and identifies a correlation between HMOs and recorded instances of crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental health complaints.

Simon Tagg, leader of the Conservative opposition group, raised concerns that the Article 4 direction will not cover the whole of the borough.

He said: "While it is encouraging that the report on HMOs has finally seen the light of day, five months later than promised, it is disappointing that the proposed Article 4 Direction does not cover the whole borough.

"Large areas such as Westbury Park & Northwood, Keele, Audley, Madeley and Newchapel, which have seen family homes converted into HMOs just like elsewhere in the borough, have been left out."

"Cllr Gullis has made a big play over the last few months about his intention to introduce a 'borough-wide Article 4 Direction', but what has been proposed is nothing of the sort.

"With vast swathes of the borough excluded, he needs to explain to residents in those areas why they have not been included and why he has chosen to leave them out."

Earlier this month, leaders at Stoke-on-Trent City Council agreed to make a similar, city-wide Article 4 direction, which will come into effect on 23 October.