Plans to turn a building most recently used as a funeral parlour into workshops and apartments has been rejected.

In late March, an application was lodged to convert the Oldham Muslim Funeral Services, also known as Jarvis House, on Jarvis Street into the workshops and flats.

The plans would have seen the building's extension retained, with the workshop area split into two units, along with five apartments in total.

However, the application has been rejected due to two of the apartments being too small and the proximity of the flats to the workshops.

The current layout of the two-storey building sees the funeral parlour and a garage on the ground floor, while the first floor has an office and storage space, along with a toilet.

The proposed plans, prepared by Plans Drawn on behalf of the applicant Mohammad Riswan, would have seen two workshop spaces on the ground floor, which would have occupied what is currently the garage and part of the funeral parlour.

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As for the rest of the ground floor, it would have been used as an apartment which would have four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and a kitchen.

The second floor would have had two more apartments, one with two bedrooms and one with three bedrooms, while each would have a living area and kitchen, while there would also have been two bedsits.

According to an application report prepared by a council planning officer, the principle of the proposal was acceptable, however they felt the applicant had failed to disclose the scope of activities which would take place in the workshops.

Therefore, the officer did not feel they could determine the impact the workshops would have on the amenity of potential residents, as well as what impact the workshops might have on the character of the area.

The planning officer also felt the two bedsits would be "significantly below the minimum space requirements" set out in national guidelines.

Due to these two issues, the plans were recommended for refusal and were formally rejected on Wednesday, July 10.