Plans to transform an office building on the edge of Oldham town centre into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been submitted.

On 2 Barker Street, which sits opposite Tommyfield Market and intersects with St Mary's Way and Henshaw Street, sits a longstanding "traditional" office block.

But plans submitted earlier this month suggest transforming the property into a mixed-use of both offices and a 12-bedroom HMO.

The proposal, submitted by MRH Planning Services Limited on behalf of Hunter Capital Group, also seeks to erect a two-storey side extension, a single-storey rear extension and make alterations to the existing roof of the building to create a mansard roof with dormers.

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In the plans, the applicant states the corner plot is an "irregular shape" but comes with a private car park at the back of the building for up to six cars while there is also some "adhoc" parking available at the front of the building on the piece of open forecourt land.

Near the site, there is a mix of commercial and residential properties, such as a carpet shop, three-storey flats and properties, including St Mary's Court and Julian House, a pub/social club, The Three C's, and an abundance of essential amenities including doctors, dentists, chemists, supermarkets, restaurants, schools and leisure facilities.

There is also a bus stop and Metrolink line nearby.

The property developers, Hunter Capital Group, plans on investing "significant resources" into the development and said it has already completed similar HMO plans elsewhere in the borough.

The company stated the office element of the plan would use only the ground floor of the two-storey side extension as its base for business which would be accessible through its own separate entrance off Henshaw Street.

A reception room, main office area, kitchen and toilet facilities would be "self-contained" within the ground floor office.

Meanwhile, the plans outline the HMO would be staggered across four floors, with the basement reserved for a communal sitting/media and games room, plus a utility room, while the ground floor would have two bedrooms and a "large" open shared dining and kitchen area.

The remaining two floors would contain the other 10 bedrooms, with five equally laid out on each.

Outside the property, there is amenity space for sitting outside, drying washing, bicycle storage and refuse and recycling bins.

It is hoped the HMO will be occupied by professional people due to the "high quality" and "high specification" of the HMO.

The application states all the window and door openings have been "carefully designed and positioned" so that they do not overlook surrounding properties though a new window for an ensuite bathroom would be frosted and opaque glazed.

The plans also reveal two car parking spaces will be lost by the extension and state some spaces would be privately reserved for workers in the office building.

A tree would also need to be removed, which the applicant said it would compensate for with some low-level green planting.

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