Rochdale gives consent for 309 homes and Parkfield House demo

The local authority has allowed Bloor Homes to bring forward its vision for a residential extension to Littleborough, while Muller Property Group can proceed with its care home and townhouse scheme.

The Littleborough extension would cover 47 acres. Credit: via planning documents

Hollingworth Road, Littleborough

Bloor Homes is free to build out its 309-home neighbourhood on 47 acres to the south of Littleborough.

Outline consent has also been granted for the creation of a 420-pupil primary school in the site’s south-east corner.

The scheme will provide 120 three-, 127 four-, and 15 five-bedroom houses, in a mix of terraces, semi-detached, and detached types for market sale.

Bloor has proposed that 26 two-, 17 three-, and four four-bedroom homes are to be affordable. 12 will be for social rent, and 25 will be for shared ownership.

In total, the development will provide 309 properties.

James Clark, managing director for Bloor Homes, said: “I’d like to thank members, council officers, and consultees who have helped to shape the final plans.

“We are very much looking forward to delivering this development and being part of the Littleborough community over the coming years.

“The approval reflects Bloor Homes’ dedication to quality place making and demonstrates how responsible development can strengthen communities.”

The application has been waved through despite the plans raising more than 1,000 objections.

However, the Hollingworth Road site is allocated for redevelopment into homes in Places for Everyone, which tips the planning balance.

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As a result of the application, Bloor is to contribute more than £3m to Rochdale Council in Section 106 obligations.

Bernard Greep, partner and head of Manchester planning at Rapleys, said: “We are pleased to have secured planning permission for this scheme on behalf of Bloor Homes.

“We worked closely with officers to bring forward an exceptionally high-quality scheme that will deliver new family homes, together with additional car parking for visitors to Hollingworth Lake.

“This decision reflects not only the strength of the application but also the significant community benefits the scheme will provide to the local area.”

Tyler Grange, Curtins, Briary Energy, and Reading Agricultural Consultants are all on the project team.

To view the plans, search for application reference number 24/00581/HYBR on Rochdale Council’s planning portal.

Parkfield House has been vacant and vandalised since 2020. Credit: via planning documents

Parkfield House, Middleton

Muller Property Group’s plan to demolish a 1960s office block and build an 80-bed care home and 20 townhouses in its place has been approved.

Parkfield House is a four-storey concrete office building from the post-war period and is recognised as a non-designated heritage asset.

Muller was advised by Archiscape on the proposals to build a three-storey 52,000 sq ft care home and a group of two- and four-bedroom townhouses on the 2.8-acre plot.

The care home is to have a T-shaped floorplate and provide facilities including a cafe, a hair and nail salon, as well as a variety of lounge and communal spaces.

Along the eastern and southern boundaries of the site, the 10 townhouses will be arranged in an L-shape, with a further group of four houses by the entry to the site.

Asteer Planning assisted Muller with its application, which can be viewed using the reference number 23/00335/FUL on Rochdale Council’s planning portal.