Plans to convert swimming pool into 10-bedroom home could be ‘catastrophic to the community’

More than 50 objections been received to plans to convert a house and swimming pool building to a 10-bed shared home. An action group has also been formed opposing the proposals for a four-bedroom detached Edwardian house on Grosvenor Street, Prestwich.

The property has an outbuilding that housed a small ‘learner pool’ known as Ivy Bank Swim School and the plans include converting the pool into bedrooms. Plans submitted to Bury council earlier this month revealed the intention to create a 10-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO).

It is understood the swimming school closed following the pressures of the Covid pandemic with the owner retiring and putting the house and pool building on the market. Documents in support of the plans, submitted by applicant GMPE Property Ltd said: “It is proposed to change the use of the property from a house and its incidental swimming pool building to a large HMO.

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“There will be a functional and, to an extent, physical link between the main and pool building, although no interlink extension is proposed. “The end users may be students, they may not.

“More mixed HMO markets are forming, including social groups such as young professionals, international migrant workers, low-skilled workers, benefit recipients and divorcees.” The plans have led to the formation of a ‘No to the Ivy Bank HMO’ residents’ group.

Some 55 written objections have already been submitted to the council’s planning portal including one from the Prestwich Village Neighbourhood Forum (PVNF).

Residents cite concerns including parking pressures, noise and anti-social behaviour, impact on the community and claim the location is ‘wholly inappropriate for a HMO in the middle of one of Prestwich’s quietest family neighbourhoods’. A statement from the residents’ action group, said: “The impact of this proposal should it get approval will be catastrophic to our community.

“It will deeply impact the quality of life and harmony of our friendly and safe neighbourhood of young families, couples who’ve just got on the property ladder and the elderly who appreciate the close-knit and safe community we have cultivated here. They claim they will target ‘young professionals’ but what young professional wants to live in a space with nine other people and one communal kitchen?

“Our neighbourhood is the very kind of community that creates cohesion, safety, low crime and of course, pride in the appearance of property stock – which brings with it, investment to the area. We will be fighting this all the way.” Mother-of-two and resident, Gemma Bennett, 37, said: “It’s just the wrong place for an HMO. I have young kids and really worry about more cars in the area. This is a quiet family area.”

Resident Tom Dickinson, 73, who lived close Ivy Bank, said: “‘It’s outrageous to have that many people in such a small building. It’s just plain wrong.” The group said Sedgley ward councillors Alan Quinn and Richard Gold have offered their support. Bury Council will decide on the planning application in the coming weeks.