PLANS have been sent to Wigan Council to turn an old jewellery shop into accommodation.

A change-of-use application has been submitted to convert the former G Andrusyak Jewellers on Railway Road in Leigh into a 10-bedroom HMO (house in multiple occupation) with eight of them being en-suite.

There would be no allocation for car parking spaces for residents but there is room for them to store bicycles at the back of the building in a securely gated space.

In an online statement by Bramhall Town Planning Ltd on behalf of the development's applicant JRO Properties Ltd, work would be carried out to remove the ground floor shop window and green exterior and replace it with red brick to fit in with the style of the street.

The first-floor balcony will also be removed and replaced with a window. A low brick garden wall and gate would be fitted too.

The statement's conclusion reads: "The site is located on the edge of Leigh town centre in a highly sustainable area with excellent access to employment, transport, leisure and day to day shopping facilities.

"Therefore, it is deemed acceptable to provide cycle provision only and the rooms will be marketed on that basis, this in turn is in line with the flexible approach of the Development Plan (development policies).

"The new residents will in addition create opportunities for significant additional footfall and economic contribution through Leigh town centre even if the residents work elsewhere, by indirectly using facilities (coffee shops etc) en-route to the bus stop or using the night time economy."

A decision on the plans is expected to be made on October 5 with a neighbourhood consultation in place until September 29.