Documents reveal how Leigh hotel and HMO would operate

Planning documents submitted to Wigan Council show the development at 44-52 Railway Road would combine hotel accommodation with a house in multiple occupation (HMO), providing 39 bedrooms with a maximum occupancy of 48 people.

The proposal has attracted significant opposition from local politicians and residents, with concerns raised about parking, HMO concentration, and whether the development would operate as a genuine hotel.

The site of the proposed HMO and hotel on Railway Road, Leigh (Image: Google Maps)

However, planning documents provide details about how the building would be managed day-to-day.

According to a Design, Access and Management Statement submitted with the application, all rooms would be capable of being used as either hotel accommodation or HMO accommodation.

The developer, Spencer Reid Ltd., says the initial intention would be for approximately half the rooms to operate as hotel accommodation and half as HMO accommodation.

The documents state hotel stays would be restricted to 30 days or less, while the HMO element would cater for longer-term occupiers.

The statement also explains that the proposed hotel would not operate with a traditional reception desk.

Instead, check-in and check-out would be handled remotely using app and email-based systems, with room access provided through secure lockboxes.

The developer says guests would also be able to contact management staff if assistance was required.

The plans also state there would be no on-site parking because of the building's town-centre location.

When discussing asylum accommodation, the planning documents state that the developer has "no intention" of letting the building as asylum seeker accommodation.

The documents also state that 52 Railway Road is already operating as an HMO and argue that the proposal would not increase the number of HMO properties in the area, although it would increase the number of HMO bedrooms.

The statement adds: "This is a town centre development where there is a need for further HMO accommodation.

"It is believed that providing such accommodation in larger units, that are professionally managed and built to a high standard is a better solution than having large numbers of smaller HMO properties.

"Railway Road is also a busy and vibrant high street, making it an ideal location for these proposals."

The application remains under consideration by Wigan Council, with dozens of objections having already been submitted through the authority's planning portal.