The conversion of a house into a care home which caused concern among residents was given the green light by Bolton Council.

The applicant, Max Potential, applied for planning permission for the site on Shrewsbury Road on September 22 of last year.

The company runs two other care homes in the area and a daycare centre close to the town centre for adults with mild learning disabilities or moderate learning disabilities. It says it puts the "ability back into disability" for its clients.

Its conversion of a house into a care home for up to four adults caused concern among residents due to its impact on a range of issues from the risk of anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour to pressure on on-street parking.

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Over a dozen of the residents backed by Roger Hayes, a councillor for the ward, wrote to the council about their concerns.

At Planning Committee this week Zayne Ally, a director at Max Potential, addressed these concerns and reassured them of the company's credentials.

Mr Ally said: "We have been providing person-centred care for upwards of 12 years.

"We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and last week we got another good rating at our inspection which is the case at every inspection we have had across all of our sites."

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A report for consideration by the Planning Committee said the impact of a care home was no more significant than the impact of a house on the range of issues raised by the residents.

A motion for the approval of the application was passed by a margin of 16 to one.

Andy Morgan, a councillor for Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor, said: "If this is a five-bedroom house then, technically, it could have five double bedrooms and it could have five cars. 

"The operator is saying at worst it could be two cars so this is a gain for the residents and I know it is horrendous around there.

"The operator has a CQC good rating and he has said the facility is for Bolton residents so I don't think we can say it is not.

"We all want Bolton residents to stay in the borough we all know it costs more to move residents out of the borough so on balance I don't think there would be a detrimental effect on the residents and I think we should be encouraging providers to provide local services to local people."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.