Parking ‘at a premium’ but housing plan gets approval

Friday, 30 May 2025 10:26

By George Lythgoe

Parking is ‘at a premium’ in an area of Littleborough where plans for four family homes have sparked anger.

Behind Hare Hill Road is some grassland with two rows of garages – some of which are in poor condition. Those garages would be flattened and replaced by the three-bedroom homes under new plans.

Residents of Hare Hill Road believe the new homes would overlook neighbouring properties; restrict access to the fire station; take away a play space for children; take away used garage space; and add to the ongoing parking problem.

Littleborough Lakeside ward councillor Richard Jackson, speaking at the planning committee meeting in Number One Riverside building, said: “These garages were built for residents of Lindale Drive. They own and use these garages and now they’re being told they are being torn down.

“Parking is already at a premium in the area, and the roads are always congested with parked cars.”

The councillor added that access to the site is ‘barely wide enough to fit a standard vehicle’, so suggested construction vehicles would struggle.

Ricard Whitely, speaking on behalf of the applicant, Tim Fairley, explained that this plan would bring ‘much-needed housing’ to the area and replace ‘mostly dilapidated’ garages at the ‘end of their working life’.

Planning officers found no issues with the proposal from a highways point of view, so the committee’s hands were tied when it came to granting approval.

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