Prince Albert pub to become HMO

Plans to transform the old Prince Albert pub on Newton Street have been approved.

The pub, once a hotspot for anti-social behaviour, will be turned into a seven-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO).

A planning statement submitted by applicant Property Touch Ltd said: ”The scheme will provide the vacant building with a high-quality HMO development which will be aimed at young professionals and key workers to meet local demand in Macclesfield, and will deliver a number of important planning and regeneration benefits.”

“The subject building is currently vacant. It was formerly a pub which is understood to have closed in January 2022. The pub was originally two terraced houses which were combined internally with a manager’s flat provided on the first floor. 

“The property is of brick construction beneath a slate roof. It has a mix of timber and UPVC windows, some with stone cills and lintels. It has been extended with a part two, part single storey flat roofed rear extension. 

“There is a rear hardstanding yard area with access from within the building and also from Hatton Street. A structural report on the building has confirmed some structural movement which is apparent on visual inspection of the building.”

“The proposed development will bring a number of economic benefits during and post-construction. The shortage of housing can act as a barrier to people accessing job opportunities, thus preventing the borough from achieving its economic potential. 

“The proposal will bring a vacant building back into use and provide HMO accommodation which will help meet the needs of local people and those moving to the borough, thereby contributing to Macclesfield’s economy.”

The statement claimed the plan would ‘not contribute to an over-concentration of HMO uses’. It also said it the project would ‘deliver regeneration and community benefits’. 

Local residents have said they would like to see ‘something done’ with the premises. But the HMO plans drew concerns about over-development and lack of parking space, with Macclesfield Town Council objecting to the application. 

In a comment to Cheshire East Council, one Newton Street resident said: “Being adjacent to the Prince Albert, I am in favour of something being done to the place as it keeps going into disrepair the longer nothing happens.

“Also the last time the place was open there was a fair bit of anti-social behaviour which was a disturbance to the neighbourhood. However the proposal for a seven-room HMO on the site will actually do more harm than good for the neighbourhood.

“In what is already a busy crossroad with limited parking, the addition of possibly seven or more vehicles based on occupancy is going to cause disruption. With this being proposed as a HMO house there is a possible chance that we could be dealing with noise, disturbances and anti social behaviour but would hope that landlords would be accountable for such issues. 

“A few years back when the pub changed ownership there was a proposal to convert the building into two houses rather than a HMO which I’m more in favour of as it’s within keeping of the area and it would minimise the parking and antisocial behaviour.” 

But Cheshire East Council approved the plans, stating that they were ‘acceptable’. The authority’s highways department had not raised any objection, stating that car parking demand for HMOs ‘is usually very low’ and would ‘not be expected to have a material impact on the availability of nearby on street parking provision’.

The report from the planning officer said: “The site is located within a predominantly residential area surrounded by terraced dwellings. Indeed, the planning statement advises that the building was previously two residential dwellings prior to its use as a pub. It is also noted that the principle of residential conversion of this building has been previously accepted and that alternative pubs are more suitably located within the town centre, within short walking distance of the site. 

“Furthermore, residents have stated that the previous use as pub had resulted in adverse amenity impacts and anti-social behaviours and the planning statement includes a local news article regarding drug use and abuse of the licence at the premises thus resulting in a problematic relationship in terms of nuisance. In light of all of the above it is considered that a seven-bed HMO would be acceptable in principle.”

The planning application can be viewed by searching for reference number 23/0102M on Cheshire East Council’s online planning portal. Comments must be submitted by February 22 with a decision target date currently set as April 24.