Doctors and nurses’ residence near Salford Royal rejected over ‘partying’ fears

Fears have been voiced that a large home near Salford Royal Hospital could become “party central” if it becomes a house of multiple occupation (HMO) for doctors and nurses.

The planning application for the conversion of the house at 138 Eccles OId Road has been turned down by Salford’s planning transportation regulatory panel against their officers’ recommendation for approval.

Panel member Councillor John Warmisham said: “In my experience, if you have a lot of young doctors and nurses [living together] they work hard and they play hard.

“That’s the right thing to do because the job they do is amazing. But any doctors’ and nurses’ residences I have known have been party central.”

The plan from applicant Dara Izadkhah was for a 10-bedroom HMO. But there were objections from 32 residents and the manager of the House Martins residential home for deaf people with learning difficulties which is adjacent to the house.

Residents say there are already noise disturbances from the House Martins facility and another home with multiple residents may make it worse. They also say there are already difficulties parking in the area.

Claremont ward councillor Michael Pevitt also spoke against the application, pointing out there were already parking problems around Eccles Old Road, and Rivington Road.

Councillor Bob Clarke backed his comments up when he said: “I am concerned we are going to put a lot of pressure on vulnerable residents. It’s quite disturbing.

“There could be up to 20 people [at any given time] and I can’t imagine the stress it’s going to put on these people.”

Councillor Neil Reynolds also said he could not support the application amid concerns that there was a concentration of other HMOs in the area which may contribute to an unwelcome “transient” local population.

Meanwhile, Councillor Philip Cusack was concerned refusal may result in the applicant launching an appeal to a planning inspector.

Nevertheless, the panel unanimously turned down the application.