A former pub in Stoke-on-Trent is to be turned into a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO). 

The former Commercial Inn, on the corner of London Road and Penkhull New Road in Stoke, was put up for sale in 2022 and plans have now been approved to turn it into residential accommodation with nine bedrooms, part retrospectively.

The development will include three en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor and six en-suite bedrooms on the first floor.

Two communal living areas will be on the ground floor with a larger area at the rear of the building and a smaller room at the front. 

The application says the development is intended for single occupancy and student use and the approved plans do not involve any external alterations.

The design and access statement states: "Knights have been instructed by AD Booth & Weston Limited to apply to change the use of the former Commercial Inn Public House to a house of multiple occupation. 

"In terms of residential amenity, all 9no. bedrooms have been fitted out to contain ensuite bathrooms, and are built to a high specification. The rooms are sizeable and satisfy the minimum bedroom standards required by licencing. 

"The scheme will provide 3no. en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor and 6no. en-suite bedrooms on the first floor. Two communal living areas are provided on the ground floor; a larger area at the rear and a smaller room at the front (which has its window facing towards London Road). 

"The front communal room will act as a snug or games room and has obscure glazing on the front window to provide a degree of privacy to this room. It will contain a communal shower and toilet (containing a lock on the door to enable residents to use a second shower if one of the other showers or toilets are out of action). 

"All bedrooms will have windows which will either face Penkhull New Road, are upper floor windows on to London Road"