An idea to change an empty 160-year-old pub has been refused
Date published: 29 January 2025
Royds Arms, Rooley Moor Road, Rochdale
The plan to turn a 19th century pub into flats has been refused by the council.
The Royds Arms sits within a conservation area of Rochdale and has been vacant for more than a year. But when plans were tabled to transform the Rooley Moor Road site into six new one-bedroom apartments, Rochdale Council said no.
Developers Bidwell Ventures UK wanted to create three flats on the ground floor and two more on the first floor and another on the second floor.
Read more: 19th century pub could soon be converted into flatsPublished: 13 September 2024
According to planning papers, there are very few external changes proposed other than a first-floor extension which would sit on top of the existing single storey ground floor extension.
But the planning team at Rochdale Council have rejected the proposal, after finding that three of the flats ‘would not get enough light’. Officers also believe the changes to the building would harm the conservation area.
The pub sits within Spotland Fold Conservation Area, which covers a small area centred upon a bend in Rooley Moor Road. The principal building in the area is the Grade II-listed Spotland Methodist Church of 1896.
A heritage report found evidence of the pub’s existence as far back as the 1840’s when it was known as Tenters Arms – before changing its name to Royds Arms by 1890. The applicants described the building as ‘derelict’ but believed this development could’ve helped futureproof the old drinking establishment.
Planning papers read: “The refurbishment and change of use proposed will undoubtedly improve the area and revitalise an existing redundant building, thereby safeguarding its future as a prominent building that is located on the fringe of the Spotland Fold Conservation Area.
“The proposed has been carefully considered and looks to minimise changes to the main elevations which are viewed from a public vantage point, retaining all existing features and characteristics.”
George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter
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