COUNCILLORS are set to make a decision on plans for a six-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Haydock.

An application proposing the change of use of a site, on Church Road, from a beauty salon to a six-bedroom HMO – along with demolition work, external alterations and a dropped kerb – will come before the planning committee at its meeting next Tuesday.

It is being recommended for approval, subject to conditions.

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According to a report to the committee, the application building consists of a two-storey detached building with a flat roof.

“The proposal would include partial demolition of the rear of the building encompassing all of the single-storey section and part of the two-storey section of the building,” it says.

“The area to the rear of the building would be utilised as shared outdoor amenity space and would include a single-storey detached outbuilding, which will be used to store bicycles and household waste.

“The outdoor amenity space will be enclosed with 1.8-metre-high timber fencing, whilst retaining the brick wall section to the rear boundary of the site.

“Kerbs along the front of the building will be dropped, to allow for parking for three vehicles.

“The applicant has confirmed that they are relocating the beauty salon to an alternate premises on the High Street in Newton-Le-Willows. Currently the applicant has one employee who will be moving across to the new premises.

“The applicant has confirmed that the maximum number of occupants would be six residents, one per bedroom, this will be secured by a condition.”

The application has been advertised with neighbouring notification letters and a site notice.

A total of 70 letters of objection to the application have been received from 23 properties, as a result of the public consultation.

The grounds for these, as summarised in the report, include parking issues, highway and traffic issues, the development is ‘out of character’ with the area, ‘inadequate living conditions’ for future occupants, and an ‘increase’ of noise and disturbance.

The report says the principle of development is considered acceptable and in accordance with the NPPF and St Helens Local Plan.

“The proposal is considered to be in accordance with the general aims and objectives of Local Plan policies, which include general support for the provision of housing needed for different groups in the community,” it adds.

“The amenity and contaminated land impact of the change of use is considered acceptable and no severe impact is created to highway network from the proposed application.”