156-158 Blackburn Road, Bolton, BL1 8DR

Planning appeal 6002864 at 156-158 Blackburn Road, Bolton, BL1 8DR (Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council) was dismissed on 23 March 2026 by Inspector Mee K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers, with regard to internal floorspace, outdoor amenity space and noise.

the change of use of first and second floor from offices to flats including the erection of first floor extension and rear dormer extension to accommodate 3no. flats

Authority: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Mee K
Postcode: BL1 8DR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposed development would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers, with regard to internal floorspace, outdoor amenity space and noise

What decided it

The unacceptable living conditions for future occupiers arising from undersized internal floorspace, absence of private amenity space, and unmitigated noise risk significantly and demonstrably outweigh the modest housing supply benefits even under the tilted balance.

The modest housing supply benefits and efficient use of an underused building were outweighed by the serious adverse impacts of wholly unacceptable living conditions for future occupiers; the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy CG4Policy JP-H3.1Policy JP-P1.15.aPolicy JP-C5:1.k
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Bolton

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

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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.