A PLANNING application has been submitted seeking to create a house of multiple occupation (HMO) above a town centre pub.

Proposals seek permission for a 12-bedroom HMO on the first and second floors above the Royal Alfred pub, on the junction of Bickerstaffe Street and Shaw Street, in St Helens.

The ground floor pub, which is close to St Helens Central railway station, will be unaffected by the proposed HMO, plans state.

READ > Plans for flats in town centre submitted

A heritage statement in the plans says: "The Public House at ground floor level will be unaffected by the proposed development.

"The proposals seek the conversion of the first and second floors to create 12 one-bedroom HMO units.

"The units will be accessed via its own dedicated entrance to the rear of the building via an existing external access staircase. No external works are proposed to any of the building elevations."

It adds: "There are no external works proposed to the elevations, there are also no extensions proposed, therefore there will be no effect on any existing or key unlisted buildings of merit or any key views or vistas."

The planning application is on a standard consultation to the public until Thursday, December 14.

A decision deadline on the plans has been set for January 18, 2024.