A FORMER bank in Ashton will be turned into five apartments if planning permission is granted.
Ayokunle Alade has applied to Tameside Council to convert what was the HSBC, which stands on the corner of Stamford Street and Mill Lane.
Three one-bedroomed properties would be placed on the ground floor with a pair of two-bedroomed flats on the first.
And documents supporting the application state: “The external fabric of the building will not be affected, save for minor alterations such as removal of ATMs which would actually improve the appearance of the building and return it to its original state.
“The reuse of the building will ensure its longevity and maintenance much to the benefit of the area.
“It is noted that the building offers a positive contribution to the Conservation Area and this application seeks to secure this impact for the future by way of bringing the building back in to use.
“The proposals would have a positive impact on the conservation area and heritage assets by way of bringing about reuse of the building, maintaining its appearance and integrity in perpetuity.”
Ashton’s HSBC branch closed down in August 2023, one of 114 branches across the country at that time.
People changing the way they bank and footfall being ‘at an all-time low’ were the reasons given by the bank for the mass closures at the time.
Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse permission.