The developer behind plans to convert a former bank into flats has said they will be “better than an HMO” despite some apartments being barely bigger than two parking spaces.
Mick McKenna said young people in Prescot would be “made up” with his proposals, which would see the old RBS branch in the town’s High Street extended and turned into nine flats.
He told the ECHO: “My architect said make it an HMO and you can have 20 rooms in that place bringing in £100 a week each, or have them as studio apartments - they have them all over the place in Liverpool.
“I’m the one who said no. It would have been more financially viable for me, I would have made more money out of it by doing that.
“Now I know some of these apartments are small but ask yourself this, would you prefer to live in a studio apartment in one room or an HMO? Because if this does not go through that’s exactly what will happen.”
According to plans submitted by Mr McKenna to Knowsley Council last month, all but one of the nine flats would fall below the 37m2 minimum space standard recommended by the government.
In the initial plans, the smallest flats was just 24m2. With a standard UK parking space measuring 11.5m2 , this flat would be barely bigger than two parking spaces.
Under revised plans submitted at the end of August, the smallest flats would now be 26m2.
But Mr McKenna said his flats would be “top of the shop”, and include underfloor heating and fitted kitchens.
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He also said there would be a small internal courtyard to provide natural light and a seating area for residents.
If granted planning permission, the former RBS would not be Mr McKenna’s first development in the town. He told the ECHO he had spent £10m on building work in Prescot over the years, including 12 flats behind Eccleston Street in 2007 and, more recently, nine flats on former waste ground at 20-22 High Street.
Knowsley Council is expected to make a decision on his plans for the former bank by September 9.
