Pub that housed a cannabis farm will not become a 10-bedroom HMO

A pub in Stalybridge where a cannabis farm was found will not be transformed into a house of multiple occupation (HMO).

The Bulls Head closed its doors for the last time in June 2022. Since then it has been left vacant and became 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. But a planning panel making a decision on the proposal said the area has been blighted by traffic problems for years, and thought this plan 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 Mustaq’s argument, with Coun Adrian Pearce saying this would “undoubtedly” generate additional parking.

Coun Jackie Lane added: “For many years, we’ve had problems with traffic there. It’s horrendous as people used to park and then get on the train to Manchester etc. 

“Going back 30 years we’ve had problems there. This needs addressing, not just for the residents, but for the industrial site there as well.”

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.