Outrage as planning application “accidentally” includes residents gardens

Residents in Whitworth have spoken of their shock after an error in a planning application accidentally included destroying their gardens.

The already controversial application, which would see the former working men’s club turned into a 16-bedroom home of multiple occupancy, has caused shock and confusion in the community from people who thought their gardens would be flattened.

After various objections, contact was made with the agent who made the drawings. It then emerged that the drawings were made in error after they were “misinformed.”

The agents, Plans Drawn, replied to Rochdale Online News only to say that it was being “immediately rectified.”

A reply to a local resident included the words: “I will review and amend the drawings in line with your comments, I apologise for the error on my part.

“I was given misleading information.”

As it stands, the already controversial plan is still being objected to by numerous residents and councillors who are worried about who might live there, parking issues, and more pressure on doctor’s services.

Whitworth resident Chelsea Pritchard spoke of how the plans included her mum’s garden, along with seven others on Princess Street.

She said: “Imagine waking up in the morning to see a sign outside, which says your garden, which you own, is going to be flattened for flats.

"No-one has bothered to check who owns the land. It turns out they do not have the right at all to touch those gardens, and in fact they were included in the planning application out of error.

"When questions were raised about ownership of the gardens, the agents quickly u-turned and said it was an “error” and that it will be “immediately rectified” with new, correct drawings which don’t encroach on anyone’s homes."

 

Chelsea added: “They said they’ve corrected the drawings and apologised, but it doesn't exactly restore any faith.

“I asked about the car park they’re planning on building on, and they’ve now gone to check who owns it. Why are they checking something they should definitely already know at this stage?

“It’s a mess.”

Local councillor Scott Smith has asked the question as to why there’s so “little details” in the planning application.

He told Rochdale Online: "Like other Whitworth residents, I am outraged by this plan for a 16-bed HMO in the old Workers building.

"What could have made high quality homes for Whitworth residents would, under these plans, be a magnet for disruption and yet more anti-social behaviour.

"And that's before we get to the developer's apparent plans to rip up Princess Street residents' gardens - which thankfully have now been reversed.

"On residents' behalf, I will fight this every step of the way. I know other councillors will too and I'm pleased that Whitworth is pulling together to put a stop to this barmy plan once and for all."

In one of the objections, J Davies has written: “May I express my concerns at the proposed change of use.

“I feel this will produce more parking issues, And local facilities such as doctors and dentists are already stretched. People are having to wait for appointments.

“Will there be restrictions on who can rent these rooms? I feel that this isn’t suitable for this area and will only add to the issues that local people are already facing.”

Another critic, S Neilson, raised that the location is not fit for purpose: “It is on the corner of an already over-used, narrow main road and a narrower side-road that is difficult to access.

“The resultant problems from additional traffic, parking, waste collection and noise would be disastrous.

“In addition, the additional impact of necessary repairs and maintenance to any HMO households would be difficult to manage in this location. There is no viable parking space for contractors and it would lead to more traffic jams and public safety issues.

“Also local amenities, such as the GP and dental surgeries, are already overstretched and the likely result of HMO residents would be an additional burden with associated health costs.”

The former Whitworth Working Men’s Club at 273-277 Market Street is earmarked for the development with market value bedrooms, according to the application submitted to Rossendale Council.

The applicant is William Buckley of Oldham. He is working with agent Dawn Winterbottom of Plans Drawn, based in Stalybridge. According to the application, the working men’s club building was last used in October 2023 and Mr Buckley is its owner.

Rossendale Council is currently considering the application . It has not yet been linked to a Development Control Committee meeting date.

Appeals can be submitted here: publicaccess.rossendale.gov.uk

Robbie Macdonald, Local Democracy Reporter

Kirsty Rigg, Rochdale Online News