®Planning appeal decision
Land at Mytham Road, Prestolee Road, Boscow Road, Hall Lane and Newbury Road, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1JE
the erection of dwellings on two sites: (i) land at former Creams Mill site including land off Mytham Road, with associated works including internal access, landscaping and infrastructure including a two-way bridge and provision of woodland walks; and (ii) land south of Hall Lane and west of Newbury Road with associated works including new access from Hall Lane, associated landscaping, internal access and infrastructure including paths along canal frontage and path linking Moses Gate Country Park; and repair to canal breach and restoration works including re-lining of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal and restoration of canal towpath
- Authority
- Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Palmer N
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to national policy and any relevant development plan policies
- the effect of the proposal on the purposes and openness of the Green Belt
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances needed to justify the proposal
What decided it
The very significant benefits of market and affordable housing delivery, combined with substantial canal restoration and other benefits, clearly outweighed the identified Green Belt and other harm so as to amount to very special circumstances.
Substantial harm from inappropriate development, loss of openness and harm to character and appearance was clearly outweighed by very significant benefits from housing and affordable housing delivery, substantial benefits from canal restoration, and further significant benefits from biodiversity, economic activity and public access, amounting to very special circumstances justifying the grant of permission.
Framework references: 11, 174
Plan policies cited: Policy SC1, Policy OA6, Policy OA6(6), Policy CG7AP, Policy CG3(7), Policy CG3(4), Policy CG3, Policy IPC1, Policy OA6(8), Policy OA6(10)
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.