Planning appeal decision
6 Thurstons, Ridge Lane, Diggle, Oldham, OL3 5LR
Planning appeal 3318047 at 6 Thurstons, Ridge Lane, Diggle, Oldham, OL3 5LR (Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council) was dismissed on 8 December 2023 by Inspector Worthington E, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would preserve a Grade II listed building Thurstons and Adjoining Barn and any of the features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses.
proposed installation of solar panels’. Appeal B: APP/W4223/Y/23/3320546 6 Thurstons, Ridge Lane, Oldham, Diggle, OL3 5LR
- Authority
- Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- utilities-energy · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Worthington E
- Postcode
- OL3 5LR
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would preserve a Grade II listed building Thurstons and Adjoining Barn and any of the features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses
- Whether it would preserve the settings of nearby listed buildings
What decided it
The harm to the designated heritage assets from the visual dominance and incongruity of the modern solar panels, which would fail to preserve the special interest of the listed building and the settings of nearby listed buildings, outweighed the limited public benefits of renewable energy generation from a small-scale proposal.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 1Policy 9Policy 18Policy 20Policy 24
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 152Paragraph 158Paragraph 197Paragraph 199Paragraph 202
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Dismissed5 October 2026601358549 Chamber Road, Shaw, OL2 7AR
- Dismissed20 August 20266009498The Vestacare Stadium Whitebank Road, Oldham, OL8 3JH
- Dismissed10 August 20266009617The Stables, 67 Thornham Road, Shaw, OL2 7HR
- Dismissed6 August 20266008648Bottom Field Farm, Medlock Road, Oldham, M35 9UA
- Notice varied and upheld29 June 2026337262897 Green Lane, Oldham, OL8 3BB
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
®