57-home development approved for site off Broad Lane

Photo: Rochdale Council planning documents

Silver Hill Farm site in Rochdale

Plans have been approved for a 57-home development on the site of Silver Hill Farmhouse and adjoining land off Broad Lane, Rochdale. The Grade II Listed farmhouse, will be partly demolished and refurbished as part of the development.

The works would see outbuildings on the 2.28 acre plot demolished and the old farmhouse restored back to a five-bedroom property. Additionally, the barn would be converted into a four-bedroom home and two other four-bedroom homes would be built on the farm site.

In order to fund the restoration works, another 53 homes would be erected on the vacant field adjacent to Silver Hill Farmhouse, which comprises Plot W of Kingsway Business Park.

The developer, David Wilson Homes North West and Rexel Property Group, stated that no homes would be made affordable (80 per cent of market rate) in order to make it financially viable.

The new homes would be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom detached, semi-detached and terraced homes all with two parking spaces. The restoration works to the farmhouse and the other buildings primed for conversions incorporate both internal and external changes.

The demolition work relates to a cluster of outbuildings to the northeast of the farmhouse which are later, more modern, additions. A new vehicular access would be created off Broad Lane with two pedestrian crossings planned.

A total of 31 objections have been raised to this application in relation to the access from Broad Lane, which locals feel would not be able to deal with the additional traffic burden. Lack of visibility; ecological damage; traffic congestion; flooding concerns; and loss of privacy due to overlooking were also mentioned in the objection letters.

Despite this, objectors at the planning meeting on 23 May said this development would be preferred to a new retail or industrial unit like there is on the business park just next door.

Objectors Simon and Peter asked the developer whether they could look into flooding and drainage issues already present on the site, which they fear could get worse with additional homes being brought to the area.

The agent on behalf of the applicant agreed to look into this issue. The plans were approved by the committee, but they want to look into changing the section 106 agreement contribution of £94,657.25 towards Balderstone Park Rugby football project and £36,300.00 towards provision of an off-site habitat creation at Stanney Brook Corridor or within Kingsway Business Park.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter