Oldham restaurant near nursery to be turned into 13 bedsits

The former Bengal Brasserie restaurant on 31-33 Milnrow Road in Shaw has been under the same owners for more than 25 years.

Until 2021, the family-run restaurant was fully functioning before another floor was added to the building and the first and second floors were converted into eight bedsits.

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The owners then decided to close the restaurant and submitted a new application in July this year to convert the ground floor restaurant into five more bedsits.

The restaurant before any work had been done to the building (Image: Google Maps)

Blueprints drawn by Bruce and Bruce Charted Architects show the ground floor would be divided into five separate flats, most of which have an open plan bedroom and living room as well as a separate kitchen and bathroom, while one flat will have a private bedroom from the living/kitchen area.

The flats will share access to a laundry room and the first and second floors will be unchanged as they contain four bedsits on each floor with a similar layout.

A design and access statement submitted by Bruce and Bruce Chartered Architects reveals each bedsit exceeds the standard minimum requirements to provide a good standard of living.

There is also a car park for up to 13 cars and secure bicycle storage on the site.

However, as many as 11 neighbours publicly objected to the plans, raising concerns over privacy, noise and the existence of other housing developments - notably HMO's (house in multiple occupation).

Residents said the area is predominantly family-friendly and that the "main and most serious problem" is that the building overlooks a nearby nursery.

A neighbour said privacy for children "will be completely intruded", adding: "This building gives nothing to the centre or people of Shaw and is totally unnecessary."

A third argued a fence or higher wall should be erected between the nursery and the site boundary, writing that the building sits "right next to one of Shaw's biggest nurseries" and that 13 flats could create "a lot of rubbish and noise".

The owners were granted planning permission to extend the building and create eight bedsits in 2021 (Image: Google Maps)

Others argued a restaurant "would benefit Shaw more" by boosting the local economy.

Another pressing concern for neighbours is that the area already "has its fair share of HMO's", with fears that the bedsits alongside other housing developments could put a strain on local services such as GPs, dentists and transport.

Another neighbour wrote: "Another HMO will only inflame tensions, problems and mistrust and undermine community cohesion.

"I am also highly concerned about this being next door to a wonderful nursery."

The resident said the development is "uncomfortably close" to the nursery and fears toddlers would "smell marijuana and hear bad language", adding that the approved plans could be "condemning the nursery to inevitable closure".

However, the architect company disagrees, as it argued turning the restaurant into flats is "more sympathetic to the adjoining children's nursery" and other residential homes on the street.

A planning officer for the council who inspected the plans found the HMO would not pose any overlooking risk to neighbouring properties from the windows, given that the conversion relates to the ground floor.

The officer also said there is sufficient alternative accommodation for a restaurant in Shaw town centre to justify the loss of the premises and that occupiers would benefit from its sustainable location, being within walking distance of a bus stop, Metrolink, Shaw centre and shops and primary schools.

As a result, the plans were approved by the council on November 8.

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk