PLANS to convert a former funeral directors into an eight-bedroom House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) have been refused.

As previously reported by the Journal, an application to convert the former Co-op Funeral Care on Prospect Street, Tyldesley, into a large HMO was submitted to Wigan Council's planning department in June.

Although the application attracted some support online, the majority of comments objected to the plans due to fears of overcrowding, bins and parking capabilities, and anti-social behaviour.

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The <a href=property after the Co-op left the premises" style="width: 100%;"> The property after the Co-op left the premises (Image: Google Maps)
At present, planning permission is only required to convert residential properties into HMOs if they will house 7 or more people, or if it is a commercial property that is being converted rather than a residential home.

This is why the application went to the council's planning department, which decided to refuse the application from Ryan Wrigley, of Pendle Court in Leigh.

Stating its reasons for refusal, a statement from Wigan Council reads: "By virtue of the number of proposed residents within the building, and subsequent intensification of the residential use and increase in activity at the site, together with the limited space for associated bin and cycle storage provision and amenity space for residents and lack of sufficient off-street parking provision, the overall scheme is considered to form an over-developed and overly intensive residential use.

"[If approved, this] would be detrimental to the amenity and living conditions of neighbouring residents and the wider area in general and would add to existing parking pressures in the area, contrary to policies of the Wigan Local Plan Core Strategy, Saved UDP Policy Places for Everyone Policy JP-C8, and the National Planning Policy Framework."