Housing standards officers have raised concerns future tenants in a proposed 13-bed HMO in Crewe might be unable to escape if a fire was to break out.

Zeta Property Ltd has applied to Cheshire East Council for permission to convert and extend a former family home at 37 Sydney Road into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

Part of the application is retrospective.

A planning statement submitted by Homz Planning, on behalf of the applicant, says: "The proposal seeks to deliver high-quality shared accommodation, responding positively to local housing needs while respecting the character of the surrounding area and relevant planning policy."

But housing standards officers have raised concerns relating to how some residents would escape from three 'inner rooms' in the property in the event of a fire.

In a response posted on Cheshire East's planning portal, the housing standards officer said: "These bedrooms, as shown on the proposed floor plan, would be classified as 'inner rooms', which would require any person(s) occupying an 'inner room [in] the event of a fire having to travel/escape through an outer 'risk room' being a living room and/or a kitchen) before they are able to reach a place of relative safety.

"Although fire escape windows may be considered acceptable for these rooms, ideally, sleeping rooms should be closer to the accommodation exit door than living rooms or kitchens (risk rooms) and occupants should not have to travel through a risk room."

A number of residents have objected to the application, as has Crewe East councillor Hazel Faddes (Labour) and Crewe Town Council.

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Regarding the fire safety concerns, Cllr Faddes said: "The time taken to leave the inner rooms could be the difference between life and death."

The Crewe councillor, who has called-in the application so it can be considered by the southern planning committee, also highlighted several other issues.

"Two bathrooms and one shower room will not be sufficient for at least 13 tenants to manage their personal bathroom requirements each day," said Cllr Faddes.

And she added: "The large and overbearing extension already built was the subject of a breach of planning, having no permission.

"This application puts the breach on hold but due to many issues with the plans this application should be refused and the decision on the breach upheld."

Residents too have cited a number of reasons why the application should be refused.

One said: "No information is provided on how noise, refuse, parking, or anti‑social behaviour will be managed. This is essential for a HMO of this size."

Reform UK staged a protest against the proposed HMO on Sydney Road on 2 May, with Crewe and Nantwich Labour MP, Connor Naismith, writing a letter raising concerns from residents.

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