A former clinic in Gorton that previously housed 21 residents illegally is set to be transformed into residential apartments after approval from the council.
The disused building, formerly used as Abbey Hey Clinic, was first granted permission in principle to be used for residential purposes in 2022, and an application for it to be used as a hostel was rejected in March 2024.
Despite that rejection, the council had to issue an enforcement notice in April to end the site’s use as a hostel, and this has been complied with.
The three local councillors and MP Andrew Gwynne, as well as the Abbey Hey Residents Association, have all expressed their concerns about the clinic’s conversion into six residential flats housing 21 people.
At Thursday’s planning committee meeting Gorton and Abbey Hey councillor John Hughes said: “The number of people, which is 21, is the same number of people put in there illegally to live in accomodation which was absolutely terrible.
“We have no confidence that the owner won’t use it as an HMO.”
However, eight councillors voted in favour of approving the application, with two votes against.
Three of the six apartments will have two bedrooms and two will have three, and there will be a single one-bedroom apartment.
Other facilities will include a garden, cycle parking and an additional six car parking spots.
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