The ‘high quality’ HMO that has stirred up a parking row

An old kitchen showroom which currently sits vacant will be turned into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) after getting approval from Rochdale Council's planning committee.

The Rochdale Road site in Middleton was subject to a seven-bedroom plan with three bedrooms downstairs alongside a living room and a kitchen/dining room. The other four bedrooms are planned for the first floor in what was described as a ‘high quality’ HMO by applicant Horizon UK Property Group Ltd.

The applicant’s representative Will Whittaker refuted claims that the HMO could bring more crime, antisocial behaviour, and noise to the area as well as exacerbate the issue over lack of parking. These are all concerns summarised by Gary Porter, representing the 64 objectors who opposed the plans at the planning committee meeting in Number One Riverside.

“I live directly opposite the planned HMO,” he told the committee. “We could have 14 more people living there and people have friends that may come to visit as well.

“Parking is horrendous there – I will struggle to park up when I go home tonight. Parking usually goes all the way up Radcliffe Street.”

In response to the objections, Mr Whittaker explained that over 80 per cent of residents in his HMOs are non-drivers, which is why there is no parking provision in the proposals. He also rubbished any claim that they are in this purely for profit, highlighting that they wouldn’t have reduced the number of bedrooms from the original plan.

“I grew up five minutes from the site and I still live nearby so I would not want to bring anything that would be detrimental to the area,” Mr Whittaker told the meeting on 3 September. “We aim to bring high quality accommodation.

“Our aim is to help with the national housing shortage. If we were in this solely for profit we probably would’ve removed the plan when we were asked to change from eight to seven bedrooms.”

All bedrooms would be fitted with an en-suite bathroom. No parking provision is planned for the site but cycle storage is mentioned in the planning papers.

The application originally proposed an eight-bedroom but concerns were raised by the council in regards to the lack of any communal living space and advice provided in respect of improving the internal layout. As such, amended plans have been received which removed one bedroom on the ground floor replacing it with a communal living space.

Despite hearing Councillor Kathryn Bromfield’s concerns over the busy junction next to the planned HMO and the safety fears she believes this plan could bring, the committee praised the applicant’s HMO plan.

Councillor Shaun O’Neill said: “As soon as someone says HMO they don’t get a chance. I think they have gone beyond the requirements and I was quite impressed with that.

“The location was a shop before, it was a prime location for a shop. Using it as a (HMO) building I think will mitigate a lot of the antisocial behaviour in that area.”

The committee unanimously approved the application.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter