PLANS have been given the go-ahead to turn an office building in Oldham town centre into a 20-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO).

A change-of-use application to convert a three-storey property on Union Street into a HMO was sent to the council in July.

Plans to convert the property into a 28-bed HMO were withdrawn earlier this year after a planning officer said many of the bedrooms had "insufficient natural light".

It was also noted windows to the ground floor "lacked a defensible boundary and abutted public footpaths" and to the southern elevation there were close to the Metrolink tram stop.

The new proposals "address these issues", a planning statement with the application said.

The ground floor is used as a part call centre and offices.

And the upper two floors are offices.

The planning statement said: "The proposals comprise internal alterations and alterations to form accommodation comprising a 20-room HMO, each with an en suite shower room with communal dining/kitchen accommodation to each floor.

"There are no bedroom windows to the western elevation. Bedroom windows now face north and south.

"This has reduced the number of bedrooms to 20 (from 28).

"Bedroom sizes are such that they are classed as combined living/ sleeping rooms.

"In relation to defensible space bedrooms have at ground floor level are now set back from the public footpath, with private space created by the introduction of a fence at the rear of public footpath.

"It is proposed to provide mechanical input ventilations to ground floor bedrooms and upper floor rooms facing Union Street, to provide attenuated fresh air input, without the need to open windows."

The statement added: "In relation to the standards for HMO, rooms sizes comply with the requirements set out for single occupancy combined living/bedrooms with the minimum room size (excluding shower room) 12 square metres.

"Dining/kitchen areas exceed the requirements of these."

After considering the plans, the council approved the application this week.