For former area down’
pancy, citing doctors, nurses and delivery drivers as examples of people who have occupied other Crosshill properties.
He said HMOs have become a more popular type of property in recent years due to a stepchange in quality from the bedsits of yesteryear, and attract people in work or sometimes people needing a few months between relationships.
The spokesman for the directors compared the rooms to being “like a hotel room”, with bills and repairs covered by the landlord and said he had lived in an HMO himself.
Rebutting fears about potential undesirables moving in the block, he said: “From our point of view, why would we want to put people in there who are going to cause problems and be a headache for the house?
“You’re not allowed to discriminate between people on benefits.
“Because we do the rooms to such a high standard and the rental rate, you’ve got to be working, otherwise you can’t afford the rent.”
In response to the comment about the planning statement’s phrasing suggesting an anticipation of crime and anti-social behaviour, he said: “It’s not my statement, that’s more planning terminology.
“The planning statement is there to answer some questions for a planner.
“The whole point for a planning consultant is to pre-empt any concerns the planners might or the community might have.”
He added: “They’re (residents) saying it’s going to be a detriment to the area – all we’re proposing is working class people.”
A planning statement submitted with the proposal said the care home would be divided into three HMOs: an eight-bed HMO with two bathrooms and one communal shower plus “living area” and kitchen, the nine-bed HMO would have two bathrooms and one communal shower plus living area and kitchen, while the 12-bed property would have six en-suite apartments, two communal bathrooms and one communal shower.
Eight cycle spaces, a bin store, communal garden, and shed would be provided outside in addition to solar panels providing renewable energy.
Public consultation over the plans is due to come to an en today August 5, with Halton Borough Council aiming to decide the matter by around September 2.