A residential garage converted into an Airbnb holiday let in Oldham has been told it must shut down as it was refused retrospective planning permission to operate.

A single-storey home garage on Ferney Field Road in Chadderton was converted into a one-bed 'studio' earlier this year and in recent months has been let out to visitors.

Guests booking in at 'The Lodge' could stay for up to £71 to £87 per night in a room which comes with a double bed, kitchenette, wifi and a smart television.

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Photographs of the booking on Airbnb revealed the apartment is situated at the end of a long driveway and has a scenic view of the field opposite.

A formal change of use application was submitted in September this year and faced fierce criticism from residents on the street.

Oldham Council received 19 objections and one supporting letter to the plans, with most citing concerns over parking, access to the garage, noise and disturbance from guests, anti-social behaviour and the fact the development was carried out without planning permission.

A vulnerable elderly neighbour was one resident who submitted an objection, writing that Chadderton is "quiet and restful" and feared having to "put up with it".

Another neighbour claimed The Lodge prompted a spike in anti-social behaviour on the street, citing an increase in litter of "alcohol bottles and cans".

A third said there were "at least three incidents" where visitors had knocked on neighbours' homes in the "early hours looking for 'the garage'".

The single letter of support for the application was made by the occupier who claimed an incident of anti-social behaviour was handled.

The applicant said the landlord prevented "further letting to those particular holidaymakers".

But neighbours also stressed concern for parking and privacy, pointing out the premises sits on a single track 20mph road which forced guests to take up neighbours' parking spaces.

A planning officer from Oldham Council has since visited the site and issued a report, detailing why The Lodge should not be granted permission to operate as a holiday let.

The officer outlined that the garage has already been converted into an apartment with a pedestrian door, windows and a low fence which separates it from the residents' garden.

But the officer found the positioning of The Lodge, with it being next to a bungalow and the boundary to a neighbour's home,  means visitors have to walk past the main front doors where they can see into the private gardens and rear windows of other residents. 

In addition, the garden of the home can also be viewed from the windows of the BnB which means users of the garden would have "direct sight to the bedroom windows of the premises".

The Council's Environmental Health Officer also raised an objection to the proposal due to the volume of noise complaints from "the authorised use of the premises" and found there are "no reasonable conditions which would be imposed to prevent noise and disturbance". 

As the holiday let sits at the top of a single-width driveway, the officer disputed the applicant's proposal for three parking spaces as guests with cars would need to share the drive with the occupiers of the home and potentially their neighbours.

It was found there was also "no public transport" links to the site and that it is "not sustainably located", meaning visitors would likely require a vehicle to get to and from the apartment.

The officer continued: "It is likely that the enjoyment of one or both properties would be affected by either being unable to utilise the driveway or by requiring additional manoeuvres to and from the driveway."

The lack of parking would likely increase on-street parking and lead to congestion as well as pose a highway safety risk. 

As a result, Oldham Council refused the application on November 28, on grounds ranging from a lack of parking provision and an "unacceptable loss of privacy and increased levels of noise and disturbance to neighbouring properties".

While the applicant has the chance to appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate, the Council could consider enforcement action if the property continues to be let out.

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