A new proposal to convert an existing office building into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) has been approved, despite previous plans having already been given the go-ahead.

Back in October last year, plans to transform the building on Barker Street near Oldham town centre into a 12-bedrom HMO, along with a two-storey side extension and a one-storey rear extension, were approved.

The plans were approved, however a new application was lodged by the same applicants to make it a nine-bedroom HMO instead of a 12-bed.

MRH Planning Services said in a planning statement, prepared on behalf of Hunter Capital Group Limited, that a decision was made to "undertake a different smaller scale development at the site".

Now, the new application, which also includes a two-storey side extension, has been given the green light and work can get underway.

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Each bedroom will have one bed and en-suite facilities, with four bedrooms on the ground floor and five on the second floor.

The ground floor will also have a communal kitchen and living area.

As part of the development, the open forecourt land at the front of the building which is used for unauthorised parking will become a landscaped area.

A car park to the side of the building currently offers six spaces, however the planning statement confirmed two spaces would be lost as a result of the extension.

In an application report prepared by a planning officer at Oldham Council, it was deemed that neighbouring properties would not suffer any "significant impact" in terms of overlooking or overshadowing due to the new use of the building.

The officer also said the loss of the office space could be justified due to there being other office spaces in Oldham town centre nearby.

The plans were formally approved on Thursday, August 8.