20-bed HMO plan at empty health centre approved despite hundreds of objections

A controversial plan to turn a former health centre into a 20-bed HMO has been approved.

Developers Safina Ghaus and Mehtab Shaukat have gained permission to turn the former Crompton Health Centre on Shaw High Street into a shared house, with 20 bedrooms arranged around two kitchens and a central communal area.

Officers at Oldham council had recommended the application be approved and by a narrow majority of eight to six, with one abstention, the planning committee voted in favour the plans after 95 minute debate.

The building, which has been empty for around 14 months since health services transferred elsewhere, is directly across the road from Shaw’s war memorial and park.

There has been significant opposition to the plans within the community.

Reacting to a previous application for a 22-bed HMO at the same site, dozens of locals took to the streets, peacefully protesting outside Shaw’s War Memorial and Lifelong Learning Centre on Sunday, April 6.

That earlier application was turned down as the committee believed it would lead to ‘substandard living standards’ for occupants.

The reason given for the previous rejection was due to ‘inadequate levels of natural lighting and insufficient kitchen and dining facilities’.

The revised application claimed that these issues had now been addressed and council officers agreed that the proposals were compliant with planning criteria.

The applicant submitted amended plans introducing two shared kitchen areas, in addition to the communal recreational space.

As a result, the proposal was assessed by planning officers as a compliant HMO.

The applicant also added their intention to soundproof the walls between the residential units.

The application received more than 100 objections and a petition with more than 200 names opposing the plans was also sent to the committee.

Campaigner Beverley McManus addressed the meeting on behalf of objectors.

She said: “This proposal is not just unsuitable it poses a direct risk to the safety, well-being and character of our community.

“Parking is already at breaking point and and adding multiple, unrelated tenants with potential vehicles will overwhelm the streets.

“Overspill parking is guaranteed and could block driveways and obstruct emergency vehicles.

“This is a settled residential street but an HMO would be constant comings and goings and disturbance at all hours and inevitable late night noise.

“Residents’ rights to quiet enjoyment fo their homes will be destroyed.

“It would also sit alongside a residential care home for people living with dementia.”

Ward councillor for Shaw, Howard Sykes, opposed the plans.

He said: “The site should be used for family and affordable homes that better meet local needs – we’re screaming out for them in Shaw’.

He added: “The proposed conversion of the health centre into a 20-bed unit is not in line with several key policies.

“I want to make clear I’ve lived in HMOs and people who live in them aren’t bad people.

“This is about the quality of the build.

“This proposal fails to deliver sustainable development that supports healthy, cohesive communities.

“Yes it is an empty building but I’d rather have this empty and wait for a quality development and not have this, which is a poor development.”

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