Historic mill conversion approval ‘mystifies’ furious objectors

Friday, 30 May 2025 10:29

By George Lythgoe

A historic mill site on the edge of Rochdale will be converted into ‘sustainable’ new homes.

The former Tack Lea Works on Bury and Rochdale Old Road has stood empty for decades, but will soon welcome 32 new homes.

Hall & Co Developments Limited will convert the 19th century dye-works in Birtle into 26 houses that ‘take inspiration from the area’s agricultural past’ alongside a block of six flats.

Alex Richardson, who lives opposite the site, told Rochdale council’s planning committee he was ‘mystified’ as to how this application could be approved.

“This application is double the previously approved housing scheme of 14 homes,” Mr Richardson told the meeting in Number One Riverside. “The road is extremely busy with cars going 50-60mph.

“At peak time it’s nose to tail traffic. How can an inappropriate development suddenly become appropriate?

“I have seen ambulances stuck in traffic on that road. How can it take 50+ more cars on that road?”

Council planning officers said there were no issues flagged by the highways team on this and noted the scheme had already seen a reduction in homes from an earlier version. A farm shop is no longer included in the plans either.

The proposal was granted planning permission back in August 2023 – but the developer said it is no longer financially viable to make contributions to affordable housing (houses marketed at up to 80 per cent of their total worth). This change is why the application came back before the planning committee.

The lack of affordable homes was due to the extra cash the developer needs to spend on supporting culverts beneath the site in ‘danger of collapse’, the meeting was told.

The lack of affordable housing left a bitter taste in the mouths of councillors, with Coun Billy Sheerin saying he was ‘seriously cross’ about it. The committee requested that financial contributions to local infrastructure should be paid by the developers.

The committee begrudgingly approved the application, with the stipulation of financial contributions, at the meeting in Number One Riverside, council HQ, on May 29.