Key Points
- · Residents in Farnworth have organised protests against a proposed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) scheme on Begonia Avenue.
- · The opposition reflects broader local concerns about the proliferation of HMOs and their impact on communities in Bolton and Greater Manchester.
- · Bolton Council is introducing stricter controls on HMO development borough-wide through an Article 4 Direction, requiring planning permission for new HMOs.
- · Protests and objections have also been reported in nearby towns such as Oldham, Heywood, Wigan, and Normanton, highlighting widespread unease about HMOs in the region.
- · Key concerns relate to anti-social behaviour, overcrowding, safety, and changes to community character linked to HMOs.
- · Political figures and campaigners have voiced strong opinions at protests, calling for peaceful demonstrations while sometimes invoking controversial rhetoric.
- · The council and residents state the need for control rather than outright bans, aiming to balance housing needs with community wellbeing.
- · These local tensions tie into a larger regional debate over housing development, immigration, and social cohesion.
What are the main concerns behind the Begonia Avenue HMO protests?
As reported by Bolton Council documents and local media, residents living near Begonia Avenue in Farnworth have expressed opposition to a proposed HMO development. The scheme involves converting a property into shared accommodation designed for multiple tenants. The concerns reflect feelings shared more broadly across Bolton and Greater Manchester about the negative impacts of HMOs. Key issues include overcrowding, increased crime levels, anti-social behaviour, and strain on local community resources.
Bolton Council states in official reports that complaints about HMOs often relate to safety issues and neighbour nuisance, with areas heavily populated with HMOs seeing more crime than average. Farnworth is part of these affected inner urban areas alongside Central Bolton and Tonge with the Haulgh. The local community fears that a further increase in HMOs will worsen these problems and erode the area's residential character.
How is Bolton Council responding to HMO proliferation?
Bolton Council is taking measures to tighten control over HMO developments through an Article 4 Direction approved in 2025. This legal tool removes permitted development rights for six-person HMOs across the borough, meaning developers will require explicit planning permission for new HMOs. The Council argues this intervention is necessary because of the disproportionately high number of HMOs in Bolton compared to national averages.
This change will allow more oversight on where and when HMOs can be established, aiming to mitigate overcrowding and community disruption without banning new HMOs entirely. There is a 12-month transition period before full implementation, giving stakeholders time to adjust. The council cited successful examples of Article 4 usage in Blackburn and Salford as models.
What has been the reaction in other nearby towns and boroughs?
The pushback against HMOs is not confined to Farnworth. In Oldham, councillors and residents have campaigned for tighter rules after what they describe as an "explosion" of HMOs. There, independents and Labour councillors have advocated for Article 4 Directions to cover all HMOs regardless of size to give town planners greater powers to regulate developments. Protests in Shaw specifically opposed plans to convert health centre premises into a large 22-bed HMO, with residents citing flooding of their town with such properties as damaging the community fabric.
Similarly, in Heywood, a protest in August 2025 drew significant attendance, where concerns blended HMO opposition with immigration policy criticism. Speeches highlighted fears for child safety and criticised local policing, linking the HMO issue to wider social and cultural debates. Despite tensions, the protest remained peaceful and was "monitored" by Greater Manchester Police.
In Wigan, residents have objected to plans to convert properties into HMOs in established family residential areas, citing potential for anti-social behaviour and transient populations. These objections underscore a common narrative across Greater Manchester's boroughs about HMOs being disproportionately sited in traditional neighbourhoods.
How are local politicians and activists framing the HMO debate?
At the Heywood protest, former council leader Colin Lambert addressed demonstrators, rejecting accusations of far-right affiliations while discussing cultural pride and national identity. He called for peaceful protest and emphasised the right to make voices heard regarding community concerns. Other speakers raised historically sensitive issues, such as alleged failures to protect children from abuse, framing the HMO problem within a moral and social crisis framework.
At the same time, local authorities stress the need to balance controls with housing demands. In Normanton, for example, developers argue the need for HMO accommodation to serve young professionals and those on short-term contracts in the area despite strong local objections. The tension between economic development, housing needs, and community interests remains a critical challenge.
What broader housing and planning context surrounds the HMO controversies?
HMOs have been permitted development in many areas since 2010, which has allowed landlords to convert homes without planning permission. This regulatory context has fuelled rapid HMO growth in urban zones. Greater Manchester councils, including Bolton, Oldham, Trafford, Salford, and Manchester itself, are increasingly using Article 4 Directions to regain planning control due to concerns about quality, safety, and neighbourhood impact.
The housing crisis, driven by affordability and demand challenges, partially explains the reliance on HMOs to meet accommodation needs, particularly for transient or lower-income populations. However, residents and campaigners argue that without tighter regulations, HMOs degrade community stability and living standards, creating areas of social polarisation.
What next steps are expected for the Begonia Avenue scheme and wider HMO regulation?
The Begonia Avenue HMO scheme remains opposed by a vocal segment of neighbourhood residents, reflecting ongoing local tensions about housing developments. Bolton Council’s new Article 4 Directions will require any future HMO proposals, including this one, to go through stricter planning processes, potentially allowing objections to carry greater weight.
More broadly, the trajectory suggests continued community activism and political debate over HMOs across Greater Manchester. Councils are likely to enforce tighter controls while trying to accommodate the underlying housing market needs. Public opinion remains divided, and local authorities will face ongoing challenges in balancing growth, safety, and neighbourhood character.