A plan to convert a terraced house into a six bedroom “house of multiple occupancy” has been given the go ahead.

The plan to transform the house on Station Road, Kearsley was put before Bolton Council in September and will see the house converted to make space for six unrelated people to live together.

A statement from the Holme Planning Partnership said that the developers believed the site was ideally suited for schemes like these.

It said: “The site is well located for access to the main highway network and local public transport connections, including bus stops which are available within walking distance of the site on Stoneclough Road, Bolton Road and Randolph Road.

“Overground rail services are also within walking distance of the property from Kearsley Station.

“The site is well positioned for access to local education establishments, places of worship, recreation facilities, medical facilities, shops, public houses and other key services and facilities.

“There is also noted to be on street car parking within the immediate vicinity of the application site.”

But similar proposals made across Bolton over recent months and years have sparked recurring controversies about HMOs, including over the living conditions they offer and the effect they can have on overcrowding and congestion on the roads.

Under the current rules, developers need to apply for planning permission from Bolton Council if they intend to convert a normal house into an HMO with more than six bedrooms.

This means that even if they are refused permission, they can still proceed with converting the houses into HMOs with less bedrooms.

But in summer, Bolton Council discussed plans to restrict HMOs that will need formal applications for HMO proposals between three and six bedrooms.

The proposal is now set to be discussed by a policy development group.

But in the case of the Station Road HMO proposal, a Bolton Council report said that no letters of objections had been received and that the development can be considered “lawful.”