Does one town centre street need seven barbershops?

Plans to open a seventh barbershop within a half-mile stretch of road have sparked debate about the future of a town centre.

Farhad Hassan said he had applied to convert a former dog-grooming salon on Chapel Street in Leigh, Greater Manchester, because he knew the trade, having worked in the industry for about 10 years, and he had an existing customer base.

But Josh Brown, who co-owns nearby Nellie's Bistro, said local people "just need something different" from what was already on offer.

Customer Jan, 68, said she remembered Chapel Street being busier and boasting a variety of shops and car showrooms.

"It used to be more thriving," she said. "When you look around in Leigh, not just in Chapel Street, the number of barbershops, vape shops, nail bars, pound shops, they are really flourishing, whereas other businesses aren't."

While acknowledging those businesses were doing well, she asked: "How many barbershops do you need in Leigh?"

When the BBC visited Chapel Street, we found Jan was not the only one questioning the mix of local businesses.

Becks, who visits the street with her family, said: "We need to stop with the vape shops and the barbers and bring more stuff for children and families."

Hassan said he remained open to other ideas for the premises and would decide what to do once renovation work had been completed, adding: "I want to make a nice shop."

Wigan Council has yet to consider his application, with Leigh and Atherton MP Jo Platt among those to have lodged a formal objection.

She said Chapel Street already had several established barbershops and argued that another would not add to the range of businesses available.

"We don't need another one, we really don't," she said.

Many shops, offices, restaurants, clinics, gyms and other town-centre businesses fall within a planning category known as Class E.

Government guidance says moving from one primary use to another within the same class is not considered development and does not require planning permission, although associated physical alterations may still need consent.

Platt said this meant premises could often change without a planning application, leaving residents and councillors with no formal opportunity to comment on the concentration of similar businesses within an area.

However, the council's planning register describes the previous dog-grooming salon as a sui generis use - a use in a class of its own - while the proposed barbershop would fall within Class E.

"This is an opportunity to assess whether [a barbershop] is the best use for this property," Platt said in her objection to Hassan's application.

She argued that the applicant had not demonstrated that another barbershop would be the most appropriate use or contribute positively to the vitality of Leigh town centre.

Platt said she accepted that property owners needed viable tenants but argued that landlords, public bodies and local representatives should work together to help a wider range of businesses become established.

She said she would be prepared to work with Hassan, as well as landlords and prospective businesses.

A Wigan Council spokesperson said the authority had a legal duty to assess every planning application on their individual merits.

They said the local authority would take into account national and local planning policies, representations from stakeholders and the community and other relevant material considerations.

"The demand or viability of a prospective business may form part of these assessments in certain circumstances," the spokesperson said.

"At this stage, no decisions have been made."

The local authority said tackling empty high street properties was a complex national issue and that it had introduced a High Street Rental Auction scheme in Leigh town centre last year.

The council said the scheme was intended to encourage owners of qualifying vacant properties to engage with prospective tenants. A rental auction could ultimately be pursued if an owner failed to engage.

In Nellie's Bistro, some strong opinions were voiced about the state of the street.

While Jan complained Chapel Street had become more rundown, she pointed out the arrival of cafes and independent shops had offered some signs of improvement.

"I think people are trying to make it more diverse and more interesting," she said. "It's good to see, but I think they've got a long way to go."

Restaurateur Brown agreed Chapel Street was "getting better" and praised the welcome his business had received since opening about three months ago.

He said businesses which encouraged families to leave their homes, meet other people and spend time together could make a big difference to the surrounding community.

Next door is Craft Hive CIC, a recently opened shop selling handmade products from local makers.

Colin and Francis said attracting customers was proving to be difficult.

Francis said only two had entered during the Monday and Wednesday shifts they had worked in the previous two weeks.

"If they came in, they'd like it," Colin said. "But it's just getting people through the door."

They said businesses offering different products needed help to become established.

Their experience highlights one of the challenges facing the businesses that many local residents say they want

Both supported their MP's objection to the latest barbershop plans and said they believed Chapel Street already had enough of them, as well as takeaways.

They said a wider range of affordable shops could help boost the area but acknowledged that opening such businesses would not guarantee them the number of customers they would need to not only survive, but thrive.

"If they want new people in the area selling different things, they need help setting up," Colin said.

For other residents, a wider mix of businesses means having accessible places where families can spend time together.

Angela said she regularly visited Nellie's with her daughter Becks and her autistic grandson Chester.

She said Chester would usually avoid going out but had repeatedly asked to return to the bistro because he felt welcomed there.

"For him to physically ask to come here is a major thing," Angela explained.

She described the surrounding businesses as "like a little community".

Becks, who is a full-time carer, said accessible and affordable local venues helped her son and allowed the family to spend time together outside their home.

"Normally we wouldn't be out socialising," she said.

"Having little places to go around Chapel Street where we can walk to is so comforting as a mother."

She said she wanted to see more places for children and families rather than more vape shops and barbershops.

Not everybody interviewed was opposed to the idea of another barbershop though.

Janine, 70, who has lived nearby since February, said the proposal did not particularly bother her.

"It's got to be something, ain't it?" she said of the currently empty building.

Hassan also pointed to the condition of the vacant building and the renovation work being carried out.

He said it still needed plumbing and electrical work, along with new doors and shutters, and that he would decide its eventual use after the work was finished.

Hassan told the BBC his aim was to look after the property properly and create something positive for local people.

Janine acknowledged there were already a number of barbers but said her priority was for Chapel Street to be improved, cleaned up and made to feel safe.

"Some nice shops would be nice," she added.

A decision is expected to be made about the proposed barbershop by 25 August.

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