Oldham centre plans for HMO above taxi rank finally granted

An application to change two three-storey buildings on 143-145 Yorkshire Street into a taxi office and an eight-bedroom HMO was initially submitted in December last year.

Prior to the application, permission had already been granted to change the use of the first floor of 145 Yorkshire Street into a taxi office.

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However, customers of the taxi rank were prohibited from waiting outside for a taxi, due to parking restrictions outside the premises.

The applicant submitted the plan in a bid to lift the restriction and allow walk-in customers into the office and to allow customers to wait outside on the street.

• Read more: Oldham town centre plans for HMO above taxi rank refused

However, Oldham Council rejected the plan in February on a number of grounds.

The on-street parking and manoeuvring of cars was the first issue the Council considered, deeming it to be a risk to pedestrians while a Highways Engineer said the walk-in booking office would increase on-street parking and congestion.

In terms of the eight-bed HMO, it then found the site was close to a care home and, considering the operating hours of the taxi office, decided occupiers of the HMO, as well as neighbouring properties, would be vulnerable to "unacceptable" levels of late night noise.

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In the full refusal notice, the proposed development was found to overall contravene the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area.

However, the applicant altered the plan in a proposal submitted in April and said it would not allow walk-in customers.

The internal layout of the HMO has also been amended in the plans, with the taxi office relocated to the rear of the building beneath a stairway.

While the ground floor will be reserved for the taxi office, shop space and storage, the first floor will have five bedrooms, four of which with their own en-suite, plus a shared kitchen and bathroom.

The second floor has a similar layout for the four remaining rooms with three having an ensuite while there is a separate bathroom.

The plans also show there will be another two communal spaces in the form of a lounge and kitchen.

The decision-maker considered the relocation of the office to be better for the occupiers in terms of noise and access.

The officer also said positioning the taxi office towards the back of the site would also reduce the likelihood of taxi drivers using Yorkshire Street, and instead encourage them to park and collect customers from the rear car park.

It was also noted the HMO plan received no public objections from neighbours, leaving the officer to consider that the development would not impact any adjoining properties.

As a result, the plans were approved in full as of August 4. 

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