Plans to turn bank into bedsits compared to 'sardines' - but it's still going ahead

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Controversial plans to convert a former bank into 11 bedsits have ‘reluctantly’ been passed by councillors, despite concerns about overcrowding.

Proposals for the old Barclays branch, in Edgeley, were approved by Stockport council’s planning committee after members were told the scheme complied with the authority’s housing standards.It means Manchester-based Lower Estates Ltd now has permission to turn the old Castle Street branch - vacant since 2014 - into an 11 bed ‘house in multiple occupation’, or 'HMO'.

The scheme - including a kitchen, laundry and basement that could be converted into a games room - was referred to the planning committee after local councillors raised concerns over bedsits being ‘crammed’ into the building.But while members shared many of the same reservations, it was ultimately passed on the casting vote of chair Coun Steve Gribbon.

Coun Gribbon told the meeting: “I don’t like this - I think it’s ‘sardines’, it really is - but I can’t see a viable, clear reason to do so [refuse].READ MORE: Go ahead for dozens of ‘affordable’ new flats to be built on old town centre car wash site “I don’t think any of us is particularly comfortable with this but we are working within a framework which is hamstringing us.” The committee was advised that refusing planning permission would be difficult to defend on appeal.