A former health centre in Widnes could be turned into a controversial house of multiple occupancy (HMO) if plans are given the green light.

A planning application has been submitted to Halton Council to convert the former Appleton Village GP surgery and health centre into a shared accommodation scheme with 15 rooms.

An HMO is defined as a property housing three or more people who do not form the same household. They have individual bedrooms but share some facilities, such as kitchens and/or bathrooms.  HMOs housing more than five people must be licensed by councils.

The scheme has been submitted by Ensign Building Projects in Warrington and would see the internal layout redesigned to form 12 one bedroom and three, two bed rooms for rent as a house of multiple occupancy with bin storage and cycle parking. Three of the rooms would be en-suite, and there would be communal kitchen and dining facilities with three shared shower rooms.

The existing Victorian building was originally built as a shop and offices for James Randle & Fredrick Guy Builders with the most recent use being a health centre and doctors’ surgery.

A planning statement submitted by the applicant, said: “This proposal will increase the supply of housing within walking distance of both the local and town centres."

According to council figures, Halton has 187 known HMOs - of which 116 are larger HMOs licensed by the authority.

The general concept of HMOs has proven controversial in the past, with one borough planning chief previously likening them to ‘Victorian slums’.  But backers say they provide a vital source of affordable housing in an increasingly tough housing market.

The planning statement added: "The proposal would offer much needed accommodation for single people in an area of predominately family homes."

Some Halton planning chiefs have expressed concern about HMOs in the past but have been told by officers that if they do not contravene standard planning regulations, a refusal would likely be overturned on appeal which would incur a cost to the council. This has led to the council trying to develop new policy.

In 2022, the council created a working party to consider policy to address the increase in HMOs and their standards. This led to production of a document which would introduce explicit planning controls and includes factors such as - concentration of HMOs within an area; restricting sandwiching of properties by HMOs; restricting three or more adjacent HMOs,  minimum property standards; and criteria to protect the amenity of neighbours. The council said this would 'further inform' Halton's new housing strategy which was signed off by borough chiefs in April.