Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillors were pleased to hear today (29 January) that a planning application to convert the former Weavers Answer public house on Milnrow Road, Shaw into an 18-room temporary homeless hostel has been refused.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Shaw Ward, Howard Sykes MBE, and his ward colleagues had asked for the application to be considered by the full Planning Committee and urged members of the public to comment.  Shaw and Crompton Parish Council, on which Councillor Sykes also serves, registered its objections as a statutory consultee as did over one hundred residents.

Today, a Planning Officer has published the decision to refuse the application on planning grounds without the need for a committee hearing.  In the notice issued today to the applicant and his representative, the grounds for refusal are specified:

‘The proposed roof alterations, by virtue of the hip to gable extension and extensive dormer sizes would create over-dominant and incongruous features which would cause significant, adverse harm on the character and appearance of the building and street scene.  The proposed development is therefore contrary to Policies 9 and 20 of the Oldham Local Plan’.

Commenting on the latest news, Councillor Sykes said:  “The applicant now has a legal right to appeal the decision, and even if this is unsuccessful he may choose to resubmit the application in a modified form or to repurpose the building in some other way, so this is one to watch.  In any case, the planning decision makes clear that any application involving the creation of a hostel or a multi-bedroomed property must become licensed with the local authority as an HMO, or House in Multiple Occupation, which will present a further hurdle.”

Councillor Sykes added:  “All Councillors recognise that there is a need for accommodation of this type in Oldham, but this is not the right location for it, and that its why local Councillors, the Parish Council and residents objected so strongly”.

The planning application is number FUL/345796/20 and can be found at:

https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200351/planning/1866/search_for_an_application

The decision notice and officer report can be found in the Documents section.

Or you can download the documents here: