B&E Boys overcomes planning obstacles in Bacup

Lancashire-based developer B&E Boys has been granted full planning permission by Rossendale Council to build 33 family homes in Bacup.

The greenfield site is next to a grade 2-listed building and has been the subject of several unsuccessful planning applications by the developer since the mid-1990s and its development has faced strong opposition from the local community throughout that period.

The successful application involved proving the technical difficulties with developing the site, affecting viability and securing a reduction in the amount of money to be paid to the authority, deviating from normal policy. The council’s policy on greenfield land was also proved to be out of date, benefitting B&E Boys’ argument for new housing.

Manchester-based planner Hourigan Connolly was instructed to manage the planning application. Beverley Moss, senior planner at Hourigan Connolly, said: “This grant of planning permission will result in the delivery of 33 high quality family homes by a well-known local developer. The development will bring about significant economic, social and environmental benefits for the borough including measures which could help secure the viable re-use of the adjacent listed building. We worked closely with the council and the Valuation Office Agency pre-application to ensure the speedy determination of the planning application and now look forward to further successes with our client.”

Peter Boys, Director at B&E Boys, said: “Hourigan Connolly provided us with the right advice from the outset and we are delighted that a site earmarked for development by the company for over 20 can now deliver much needed new homes in the near future.”