Design for Littleborough

Holy Trinity Church, Littleborough

Efforts to maintain the high quality of buildings and open spaces in Littleborough will take a step forward, as local people get their chance to comment on guidance for all new development in the town.

The Littleborough Town Design Statement has been produced by the local community to help improve the standard of design for new development. The public, developers, land and property owners, businesses and environmental organisations are being consulted on a draft of the Statement.

Copies of the statement can be viewed at libraries and Customer Service Centres in the Pennines township, as well as at Littleborough Coach House until Monday 9 August.

The Town Design Statement (LTDS) is intended to help improve design quality in Littleborough and protect/enhance Littleborough's character and distinctiveness. It will be used to a will be used to guide decisions on planning applications for new development in the town.

It has been prepared by the local community, led by the Littleborough Civic Trust, with support from the Littleborough Historical and Archaeological Society, the Countryside Agency and Rochdale Council.

Rochdale Council is keen to see more design guidance prepared to supplement the policies and the Unitary Development Plan. It is now confident that the design statement can be formally adopted as supplementary planning guidance to assist in determining planning applications and regeneration schemes in the Littleborough area.

However, before this can happen, the Council needs to consult on the draft and revise it where necessary, in response to comments and suggestions that are received. We need views now so that we can have a final approved version in place by the autumn.

Councillor Keith Swift, Chair of Pennines Township said, "The statement should be shaped by the whole community, including businesses, developers, builders and everyone involved in the physical development of Littleborough.

It is important that new building should revitalise the town but also complement the existing blend and quality of its buildings."

If local people have any views on the design of buildings and spaces in Littleborough, and what they think is special about Littleborough's character and how it could be retained, this is their chance to make them known."