New town centre apartment block approved

Monday, 12 May 2025 13:44

By George Lythgoe

A new apartment block in the heart of Heywood will be built.

The four-storey block of flats will be built off Earl Street, between Bethel Street and Taylor Street. The 23 flats will be a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedrooms – four of which would be available for affordable rates.

Affordable housing is where homes are marketed at a reduced rate (up to 80 per cent of market value).

Being just a stone’s throw from Heywood town centre, the developer wants to put the vacant land to better use. Planning papers say the site is currently boarded off, but some of the boarding is low quality and has collapsed in some sections.

The applicant, Mr Agron Elezi, wants to provide outside amenity for residents, so has included balconies for each apartment in the scheme.

Due to the apartment block’s town centre location, car parking spaces were deemed ‘redundant’, but ample cycle storage space is included in the plans.

Planning papers read: “We feel that the proposal would be a valuable addition to the area by providing high quality and well-designed apartments in Heywood’s town centre.

“The site was designed to consciously address security, privacy, accessibility and to create an architecturally interesting façade to contribute to the Earl Street, Taylor Street and Bethel Street street-scenes.”

The plans have officially been approved by Rochdale Council.