Bolton: Plan to turn Star and Garter on Bow Street into HMO

This comes after a plan was put forward proposing to turn the old Star and Garters pub on Bow Street into a 13-bedroom house in multiple occupation.

This will also involve creating new communal spaces, while developers claim it is in an ideal location for housing.

A statement from RA Design and Project Management Limited said: “The existing commercial use to the rear operates during the normal daytime hours and it is not considered that there would be any adverse impacts upon future occupiers of the HMO rooms.

“The introduction of a HMO in this location would be compatible with other uses in the locality and would not give rise to adverse impacts in terms of visual or acoustic privacy.

The plans have been put before Bolton Council (Image: RA Design & Project Management Ltd)

“There is no evidence to substantiate any generalised assertion that occupiers of a HMO are intrinsically more disposed to coming and going in the late evening or early morning hours than occupiers of other property types.

“The likely comings and goings would not be materially different to those associated with a typical household.

The vacant Star and Garter (Image: Google Maps)

“In any case, the site is in a town centre location with the nearest residential uses not located in close proximity to the application site, the nearest being to the north on Bark Street East.”

The pub itself has been vacant for some years now and the developers say that given its closeness to nearby transport links and to Queens Park, it could be well suited for new living spaces.

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But previous bids to create housing like this at various locations all around Bolton have run into opposition from residents and elected councillors alike.

Critics of HMOs have often cited overcrowding, congestion on the roads and pressure on public services as unwanted side effects.

The plans for the new Bow Street HMO were put before the council on Friday, December 22 and will be open for neighbourhood consultations until Thursday, January 18.

The authority will then aim to decide whether or not to approve the bid by Friday, February 16.