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A former NHS surgery is at the centre of plans to become a house of multiple occupation for up to six people. The Market Surgery building on Chorley New Road, Horwich, is currently vacant after GP services transferred to a new health centre in the town. A planning application lodged with Bolton council reveals details of the plans to transform the two-storey end corner terraced property. The applicant’s name is not published in the documents with the plans submitted in the name of Salford based HAD & Co. A HMO management plan, published on the council’s website, said: “The proposal involves converting an existing corner property from NHS clinic to a six-person HMO. “The property will undergo internal changes at ground floor level and first floor level to the HMO while also providing more than sufficient communal space and storage for the future occupants. “It is also proposed to create a new bay window in place of the commercial square bay at the front, introduce a front garden wall to match the surrounding residential properties and enhance the rear yard further to make use of the external space for additional amenity space for the proposed residents. “There will also be a shared living-dining-kitchen space to the rear with access into the rear yard. The first floor will host the remaining four bedrooms and all six bedrooms will be single occupancy with their own private en-suites. “All bedrooms will be above the size of 10.22m2 to meet the minimum space standards set by Bolton council.” The plans also include the installation of an external electric retractable awning to provide shelter for the outdoor seating area. The supporting documents state that the applicant has a well established relationship with local accredited property agency Dwell & Co, and already owns a portfolio of similar HMO properties throughout Bolton and beyond. Dwell & Co would be responsible for the maintenance and up-keep of the property and will also manage the tenants. Planners at Bolton council will decide on the plans in the coming weeks.
