Decision due on homes plan for Dexine site

Plans to demolish an historic Victorian-era textile mill to make way for dozens of new homes are set to be decided upon next week.

Property firm Hallmark Developments wants to clear Spotland New Mill – formerly home to Dexine Rubber – so it can build 47 three and four-bedroom houses on the site.

The two-storey red brick mill, which dates back to the 1870s, sits within Spotland Bridge Conservation area, close to two Grade II listed bridges.

The Rochdale-based company says the scheme – which also includes the refurbishment of a steel framed industrial building –  would have ‘a positive and energising impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area’.

The 1.6 hectare site has been has been hit by fire, vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the past, and the council’s report accepts that its ‘dilapidated and vandalised’ condition detracts from the character and appearance of the conservation area.

Planning officers have advised members of the authority’s planning committee to refuse the proposals.

An officer’s report states that the heritage statement submitted with the application ‘does little more than seek to justify a significant loss of heritage significance by pretending it is not important to the conservation area’.

It continues: “The site has been in the applicant’s ownership since at least 2012 and the site has continued to deteriorate rapidly during that time. The applicant must therefore take some responsibility for its present condition.”

The report goes on to advise the committee that ‘the neglect of a heritage asset should not be taken as reason for its demolition where there is evidence the neglect has been deliberate’.

There are also concerns the proposed housing development would distrurb the buried remains of the former Spotland Workhouse, which dates back to 1740.

However Hallmark says the scheme is widely supported by residents and ward councillors, who are anxious to see the site brought back into use.

Graham Healey, spokesman for the company, said: “Our view is that, while the mill is there, it’s a blot on the landscape and will provide a residential development for about 50 units.

“We are hoping on the night of the meeting the ward councillors will speak on behalf of the application.

“All the people that live there want the mill down and the site cleaned up by way of a residential development. The planners are sticking to their rules and saying this mill merits individual consideration.”

Councillor Cecile Biant, ward councillor for Spotland and Falinge said she looked favourably on the application.

She said: “I would like to see the site developed, because it has been a long time in this state, but we will have to leave it to the planning committee.”

Rochdale Council’s planning and licensing committee meets on Monday 4 March at 6pm.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter