'High quality' HMO in a kitchen showroom stirs up parking row

An old kitchen showroom which currently sits vacant will be turned into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) after getting approval from the planning committee.

The Rochdale Road site in Middleton was subject to a seven-bedroom plan with three bedrooms downstairs alongside a living room and a kitchen/dining room. The other four bedrooms are planned for the first floor in what was described as a ‘high quality’ HMO by applicant Horizon UK Property Group Ltd.

The applicant’s representative Will Whittaker refuted claims that the HMO could bring more crime, antisocial behaviour, and noise to the area as well as exacerbate the issue over lack of parking.

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These are all concerns summarised by Gary Porter, representing the 64 objectors who opposed the plans at the planning committee meeting in Number One Riverside.

“I live directly opposite the planned HMO,” he told the committee. “We could have 14 more people living there and people have friends that may come to visit as well.

“Parking is horrendous there - I will struggle to park up when I go home tonight. Parking usually goes all the way up Radcliffe Street.”

In response to the objections, Mr Whittaker explained that over 80 per cent of residents in his HMOs are non-drivers, which is why there is no parking provision in the proposals. He also rubbished any claim that they are in this purely for profit, highlighting that they wouldn’t have reduced the number of bedrooms from the original plan.

“I grew up five minutes from the site and I still live nearby so I would not want to bring anything that would be detrimental to the area,” Mr Whittaker told the meeting on September 3. “We aim to