PLANS have been approved to turn a vacant old pub into two flats of multiple occupancy consisting of nine rooms altogether.

This is the second former pub that has had plans approved to change them into flats in the last 18 months.

An application was submitted on July 1 by Faith Hope and Shelter, with planning agents Paul Buttler Associates, to transform the vacant Nelson pub, in Chorley Old Road, into homes of multiple occupancy.

The plan intends to turn the ground floor of the pub into a five-bedroom house of “multiple occupancy” with four bedrooms on the first floor.

The Nelson was on the corner of Chorley Old Road and Gaskell Street, and is believed to have closed as a pub around April 2019.

Plans were formally approved to turn the pub into the two houses of multiple occupancy on August 27.

The officers report for this application states that this type of development would fit in the area as similar conversions have taken place at nearby vacant public houses into residential units.

This references the conversion of the Victory Hotel, also on Chorley Old Road, into a number of flats, which was approved in January 2019.

However, a letter of objection was received with this application stating: “Strongly oppose another HMO in the area”.

The planning officer responded to this saying: “Each HMO planning application is assessed on its own merits.”

Another letter of objection opposed the idea of a HMO in the area, saying that they increased crime, anti-social behaviour and excessive rubbish.

The planning officer decided that these were separate issues, and the plans were subsequently approved.