Final decision made on controversial pub conversion

A developer has lost an appeal after being refused permission to convert an old pub into a house of multiple occupation (HMO).

The Bulls Head in Stalybridge closed down in 2022. It has since been busted as a cannabis farm after becoming a target of antisocial behaviour and criminal activity.

Police swooped in on the Knowl Street establishment in May 2023 and seized more than 200 cannabis plants, it was reported.

First Choice Investments Ltd wanted to turn the old pub into residential accommodation with 10 en-suite rooms. 

Tameside Council’s planning panel refused the idea back in January, saying the area has been blighted by traffic problems for years. The panel felt this proposal would only make things worse.

Tariq Mushtaq, who appeared at the meeting in Droylsden on behalf of the applicant, claimed that many of their HMO tenants don’t have cars, and this wouldn’t be an issue given they had room for two off-road parking spaces.

Councillors on the panel didn’t agree with Mr Mushtaq’s argument, with Coun Adrian Pearce saying this would “undoubtedly” generate additional parking.

Giving their reasons for refusing the plan, council planning officers cited an increased risk of noise and disturbance, by way of parking conflicts. Concerns of overdevelopment at the site as well as waste collection problems were also raised by the planning officers.

The developers appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, appointed by the government, whose decision is final. However, the inspectorate agreed with the refusal decision – meaning the appeal was lost.