Decision on controversial housing plan delayed

Friday, 11 April 2025 10:20

By George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter

Land behind Hare Hill Road in Littleborough earmarked for development. Credit: Rochdale Council.

A controversial plan to build four family homes on a small patch of land in Littleborough has been delayed.

Behind Hare Hill Road is some grassland with two rows of garages. Those garages would be flattened and replaced by the three-bedroom homes, if the plan was approved.

Some are not keen on the scheme, which they claim could make existing parking problems in the area worse and have 2.5 storey homes overlooking their properties.

Residents of Hare Hill Road, attending the Rochdale council’s planning committee meeting on April 10, claimed the road has cars parked up on both sides, so many people living in the nearby terraces rely on those garages to park their cars.

They feared the new homes could exacerbate the issue.

Littleborough Lakeside ward councillor Richard Jackson, speaking at the meeting in Number One Riverside building, said:

“This is a very narrow road, in a poor state of repair, and is the access to the fire station.

“That narrow entrance would never get through construction vehicles, which means they would have to park on the road, possibly blocking the fire station.

“I have no issue with building on brownfield sites and support that idea. But the inaccessibility of the site makes it an unrealistic place to actually build.”

Coun Billy Sheerin added:

“Residents say there is a massive parking problem here.

“We have a pandemic of parking problems across the borough, so we don't want to exacerbate this issue.”

Council planning officers said the highways department found no issue with the plans, tabled by applicant Tim Fairley.

Coun Phil Burke suggested the plans should be deferred so planning officers could negotiate to reduce the scale.

That unanimously agreed, meaning the proposal will come back to the committee at a later date.

As this application was for outline planning permission, further permissions will be required before any building work can begin.