A pub that served a village for nearly two centuries is set to be turned into accommodation for 12 people.

Plans to convert the Crown Inn in Silverdale into a 12-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been recommended for approval.

Objectors, including two local councillors, have called for the application to be refused, saying Silverdale already has too many HMOs, causing problems with parking and anti-social behaviour.

But the applicants say the aim is to provide 'high quality' accommodation for young professionals.

Planning officers at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council say the former pub is in a 'highly sustainable' area and that there are no planning reasons to refuse the application. Members of the planning committee will consider the application when they meet on Tuesday.

The Crown closed in 2025 after 186 years, with previous owner Joule's Brewery saying it was no longer commercially viable.

Under the plans submitted by new owner Steve Whigham, the interior of the pub would be turned into 12 en-suite bedrooms with a communal kitchen and seating area on the ground floor.

According to the application, there is a demand for HMOs in the area due to lack of affordable accommodation.

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But ward councillor Rupert Adcock says that public opinion in Silverdale is 'firmly against' the provision of more HMOs. In his objection he states: "HMO density in Silverdale is already high.

A recent HMO was granted permission in Church Street and I believe the current density of HMOs in the area is damaging to traffic management, increasing strain on local facilities, community cohesion and could lead to rises in ASB.

"Parking is a big concern with 12 bed occupancy plus any guests and visitors will put a strain on already overstretched local parking."

Silverdale Parish Council has also objected to the application, raising concerns over the number of HMOs in the area. In a written response to the objections, applicant's agent John Norfolk says that is 'unfortunate' that antisocial behaviour has been conflated withn HMOs.

Mr Norfolk states: "The aim is to provide high quality accommodation for young professionals. Each tenant will sign up to a tenancy agreement which will set out behavioural expectations on them as tenants and any breach of these could lead to an eviction.

"The commitment to quality can be seen on the submitted plans where the space standards have been generously exceeded for tenants' comfort."

A further response, Mr Whigham states that there is no intention to house asylum seekers at the property.

Planning officers say that while the site has no dedicated parking spaces, there is 'ample' street parking. They also note that a pub would have a greater parking requirement than the proposed HMO.

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The report to the planning committee states: "The application site is located within a highly sustainable area of the borough and there are no planning matters related to the development on which a refusal could be sustained. The application should therefore be approved."

The report also states that with four HMOs within 200 metres of the site, which were probably completed under permitted development rules, it would be 'difficult to sustain an argument that there is a significant number of HMOs' in the area.