AN APPLICATION seeking permission to use a property as a house of multiple occupation has been passed.

Plans for a change of use of the former North Road Mart premises into a nine-bedroom HMO and external alterations were approved last year.

The proposals were sent in by applicant Mr Wong to St Helens Council.

Previous planning permission for apartments at the building had been granted before the application for a HMO was drawn up.

Now the applicant has submitted proposals to amend the plans for the ground floor.

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A planning application states: "Following the approval of our application for the conversion of the existing Class E commercial property into a nine-room HMO with all en-suite rooms and shared kitchen and laundry facilities.

"This application seeks to amend the ground floor proposed plan. This has been approved by the HMO and we are applying to approve the ground floor plan."

A design statement in the plans reads: "Our approach is to convert the property into nine room HMO consisting of nine double rooms all with en-suite facilities.

"This will support up to nine tenants."

Recommending approval, planning officer Alex Ball said: "It is not considered that the change of use would attract excessive noise levels. 

"A condition would limit occupation of the HMO to nine people.  This would not result in significant impact from comings and goings and the building does not adjoin another property to result in internal noise transfer."