Green space next door to petrol station to become supported living complex

A small patch of green space between Smallbridge and Littleborough will be transformed into a 17-home supported living facility following council approval.

Vacant land next to a petrol station is set to become home to a complex housing vulnerable adults.

A small patch of green space between Smallbridge and Littleborough will be transformed into a 17-home supported living facility following council approval. The land, next door to Mount Green Filling Station, will see a three-storey building erected with flats, a staff office and off-street parking included.

The site is on the junction of Halifax Road and Wuerdle Street which is currently unused grassland in one part – with a small section used as car parking.

Once built, the cluster of one-bed flats would be operated by PossAbilities, which is a business that specialises in supporting people with learning disabilities, young people leaving care and those with dementia. The applicants have advised that most of the adults that they support will have either learning difficulties or dementia, according to planning papers. The development would be spread across three floors, with the ground floor housing six flats, a lobby, staff offices and a staff rest area.

The first floor will contain seven flats as well as a communal space and a further four flats on the second floor. Planning papers read: “PossAbilities is a social enterprise that works to support vulnerable adults. Their scheme’s aim is to support vulnerable people so they can ‘live the life they choose’. 

“Most of those they support have either learning difficulties or dementia and young people leaving care are also supported. 

“The development will allow PossAbiliities to provide further housing support to vulnerable adults living in the area, increasing their independence and improving their access to the other services provided by PossAbilities in the Rochdale area, including The Cherwell Wellbeing Hub, Leighton House, and Harelands House.”

Eight off-street parking spaces will be provided to the rear of the building and a communal garden would be created in the back (eastern) corner of the site. 

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter