DEVELOPERS from Hong Kong want to turn a ‘very dilapidated’ former Stalybridge shop into a controversial house of multiple occupation (HMO).
The Shop Inn on Stamford Street has stood empty for years but after a recent sale, an application has been lodged with Tameside Council to convert it.
Despite being described in a report on behalf of applicant Fung Chi Shing as, ‘void, empty and in very dilapidated condition,’ and ‘likely to be un-mortgageable as a consequence of its dilapidated condition,’ he wants to turn the building into a seven bedroomed HMO, with communal areas.
Shop Inn HMO Plan
There would also be no car parking – only a bike storage area.
According to documents, the proposal includes having a bedroom in the loft area, while each one will have an en suite bathroom.
Cooking facilities, however, would be communal with one sink, a four-ring hob, oven and grill needed per five occupiers needed.
It will also have a fridge, freezer, dishwasher and clothes washing facilities together with a pot washing sink.
Each room and the lounge and kitchen areas will be heated and served by a shower, toilet and hand wash basin as standard.
A central lounge and leisure area and a separate kitchen dining area.
Shop Inn laying empty for several years has meant the building, which has two bedrooms on its first floor and could have four, in the words of the applicant’s report, is ‘dilapidated and suffering from structural disrepair.’
In the plans, two bedrooms would loe on the ground floor, with one in the loft.
Applications to create HMOs have proved controversial in recent years.
In nearby Mossley, a long-running fight has been mounted against a plan to convert a property on Stamford Road there into a nine bedroomed one.
And this application, which is expected to go before Tameside Council’s Speakers Panel (Planning) committee, may create a similar reaction.
The Correspondent understands at least one councillor is likely to vote against the application when, or if, it gets to that stage.
I am really concerned about the proposal that may go ahead for the shop in turning into an hmo for a few families as a tenant of this street for 27 years it is what we dont need as its quite dangerous as its on a very busy main road there is no carparking places as the side street is already full of the tenents vehicles in that street so more cars turning up would be disastrous and an accident waiting to happen when you consider this i hope that you can take into account what ive said i really would of thought us as tenants would have been notified of these plans
Have you seen the re application for a 2nd HMO on Stamford Street Stalybridge? There is already a HMO next door to it.
Apparently 31 homes were consulted but no one on that street or adjacent neighbours were sent a letter. Also there does not seem to be a site notice in place nearby.
The building is in such an awful state
There are cracks in the building, it is beyond run down. Looking at the plans the size of the rooms are awful!
How will they manage if there are COVID issues? A 5 room HMO does not guarantee a maximum of 5 person occupancy. The tiny yard will have to house all the bins so what outside space will they have? It does not make sense for 2 HMO Side by side next door to each other on the same street.