77 Long Street, Middleton, M24 6UN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area bearing in mind the special attention that should be paid to the desirability of preserving the special interest of the adjacent Grade II* listed building, known as Long Street Methodist Church Long Street Methodist Sunday School, and the extent to which it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Middleton Town Centre Conservation Area
• highway safety with respect to pedestrian access and movement within the site
• the living conditions of nearby residents with respect to noise and air quality
• protected species with respect to badgers

What decided it

The potential direct harm to the fabric of the adjacent Grade II* listed building from the proximity of the ramp and lack of construction detail, combined with the failure to provide safe pedestrian access, inadequate noise and air quality assessments, and absence of a badger survey, collectively outweighed the economic and regeneration benefits of the scheme.

The substantial weight given to potential harm to the Grade II* listed building, substantial weight to harm to living conditions of residents from noise and air quality impacts, significant weight to lack of safe pedestrian access, and moderate weight to potential harm to badgers outweighed the substantial weight given to economic benefits and reuse of vacant building, resulting in dismissal of the appeal.