Fresh plans have been submitted to Warrington Borough Council proposing the conversion of the upper floors above the San Marino Italian restaurant on Old Liverpool Road, Sankey Bridges, into a five‑bed house in multiple occupation (HMO).
Background and previous refusal
The application follows a refusal by the council last June for an earlier bid to create a five‑bed HMO above the premises, which was formerly known as Deva Bistro and Meathouse and, before that, the Coach and Horses pub.
Council planning officers raised concerns about the earlier scheme, citing an unacceptable impact on residential amenity and shortcomings in providing an inclusive, accessible and safe environment. Inspectors also described an external metal staircase proposed in the earlier plans as an "incongruous addition" that would harm visual amenity.
What the revised application says
The new submission, made by applicant Miraz Yolcu, states that the scheme has been comprehensively revised to address the reasons for refusal. Documents accompanying the application say the revisions pay particular regard to:
- safe and inclusive access arrangements;
- design and visual impact;
- and flood risk and occupant safety.
"This application follows the refusal of the previous application and has been comprehensively revised to address all previous reasons for refusal," the planning statement says.
The proposal seeks full planning permission to reconfigure and change the use of the existing upper‑floor residential accommodation to provide a five‑bed shared living HMO, with communal kitchen and dining space, bathrooms and toilets. The applicant notes the upper floors have historically been used as residential accommodation and rented as a flat for employees, although they say the property has not previously operated as a formally licensed HMO.
Planning considerations for councillors and neighbours
Key issues the council will need to consider include:
- whether the revised access and design measures adequately address previous safety and inclusivity concerns;
- the potential impact on neighbouring residents' amenity, including noise, privacy and comings and goings associated with shared living;
- visual effects of any external alterations and whether they respect the character of the street;
- and flood‑risk management and occupant safety measures for the upper floors.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | San Marino, Old Liverpool Road, Sankey Bridges |
| Proposal | Change of use/reconfiguration of upper floors to a five‑bed HMO |
| Applicant | Miraz Yolcu |
| Previous decision | Refused by council (June, previous year) |
Residents and interested parties will be able to view the application documents on the council planning portal and make representations before the council reaches a decision. The council will also assess whether the proposal aligns with local planning policies on housing mix, amenity standards and design.
The resubmission highlights a tension seen elsewhere in Warrington between making better use of existing buildings to increase housing supply and protecting residential amenity and local character. The outcome will be watched by neighbours and landlords alike as an indicator of how strictly the council applies its previous reasoning on accessibility, visual impact and safety.
