A ROW of run-down buildings in a prominent position on a main town centre street will not be turned into HMOs.

Plans had been submitted to Warrington Borough Council for a change of use of vacant buildings on Bridge Street, along with associated alterations.

The original aim of the scheme by applicant Property Touch Ltd was to convert numbers 127, 129 and 131 into a 10-bed HMO, or house of multiple occupation.

This was later downgraded to an eight-bed HMO, however, council planners have ruled against the proposal and refused planning permission.

The three-storey buildings in question, vacant former hot food takeaway premises with accommodation and storage above, ‘appear to date from the Victorian period’, with plans stating that they are ‘in a poor condition and have a negative impact on surroundings’.

Documents say: “The scheme will provide a generous communal living space for residents on the ground floor, including a large open-plan kitchen, living and dining space and utility-laundry.

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“Two HMO bedrooms will be provided on the ground floor, with four on each of the first and second floors. All bedrooms will have ensuite bathrooms

“The HMO will be targeted to private residents seeking an affordable housing solution in the area.

“These are likely to be young professionals working within the Warrington area, on lower wages who could not afford to rent and pay all the bills associated with a one-bed apartment on their own, or who prefer to share with others and live in a high-spec, co-living house, which they could not afford otherwise.”

A marketing letter by the estate agent which sold the property said: “During our extensive marketing, we received a number of offers, none of which were for continued commercial use.

“Instead, these offers were for conversion to residential, either HMOs or flats.”

The applicant said the proposed development is ‘associated with a range of benefits’, including the redevelopment of vacant existing buildings and previously developed land, to ‘help to address housing demand in Warrington and reduce pressure to develop green field and green belt sites’.

“The development will provide a good standard of accommodation for residents and will provide much-needed, high-quality accommodation within Warrington town centre, helping to support existing shops, services and businesses,” they added.

However, in refusing permission, the council said: “The proposed change of use and associated alterations would fail to achieve appropriate standard of residential amenity, in relation to outlook and ventilation, together with lack of defensible space.

“The proposed change of use and alterations, by virtue of its design and materials, would result in harm to the designated heritage assets, and would therefore detract from the significance of the designated heritage assets of the conservation area.

“No public benefit to outweigh this harm has been identified. As such the proposals are contrary to planning policy.

“The proposed alterations to the building, by virtue of its design and materials, would be detrimental to visual amenity of the street scene, at a site that is part of prominent frontage within the town centre.”

The refusal comes weeks after the council granted permission for neighbouring, run-down Bridge Street buildings to be brought back into use for mixed-use commercial and residential purposes.

This is in the form of retaining a commercial use on the ground floor, while creating provisions for a four-bed flat across the first and second floors.