Plans to convert a former church hall in Crewe into an HMO will be considered again next week, after councillors previously deferred the application.

Skope Property Investments wants to convert the former hall on Vincent Street into a 10-bed house in multiple occupation.

The southern planning committee raised concerns about the proposal at its meeting in December and eventually deferred it for more information about waste storage, how the site would be generally managed, and for clarification on available on-road parking in the evenings – as the proposal offered none on site.

Local residents to the proposed HMO on Vincent Street are unhappy with the plans (Ryan Parker).

The application is back on the agenda for next Wednesday's meeting (February 5) and the planning officers say the issues raised have been addressed.

A report from the council's planners states the applicant has submitted a revised plan for bin storage which is sufficient for the proposed use of the site and has confirmed the property will be run by a management company.

With regard to parking, the report states: "The applicant has submitted a revised plan to show four parking spaces in front of the building.

"However, the use of these parking spaces couldn't be guaranteed as they are within the highway."

"The applicant has stated the spaces highlighted in the original submission nearby were sufficient to address the likely need for parking in association with the proposed HMO, given the average car ownership levels of similar HMOs in the area being only 14 per cent.

Skope Property Investments wants to convert the former hall on Vincent Street into a 10-bed house in multiple occupation (Ryan Parker).

"The parking study previously submitted showed that in the pm there were available spaces on local roads in the vicinity of the site. They are not all on Vincent Street but within easy walking distance."

Crewe councillors Jill Rhodes (Labour), and Hazel Faddes (Labour), spoke at the meeting to object to the proposal.

Both had raised concerns about parking and Cllr Rhodes also criticised the rooms, describing them as '10 monk-like cells that are barely big enough to have a wardrobe and bedside cabinet'.

Crewe Town Council has also objected to the scheme as have about 50 local residents.

The council planning officer's report states: "The proposal would provide positive benefits such as the economic sustainability roles by providing employment in the locality during conversion works and social role by providing housing in a sustainable location.

Crewe East councillor, Hazel Faddes (Labour) (CEC).

"The retention and re-use of the building is also a positive benefit of the scheme."

The scheme has been recommended for approval, with conditions.

The meeting of the southern planning committee takes place at 10am on Wednesday 5 February at Crewe Municipal Buildings.

READ MORE: Crewe college commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day with powerful student-led ceremonies.

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