Plans for derelict pub sparks fears

Saturday, 17 January 2026 20:19

By George Lythgoe

Church Inn pub, Birtle. Credit: BDB Special Projects Ltd

Villagers fear trucks could be rattling through their roads if plans to transform a derelict pub go ahead.

The Church Inn in Birtle, on the edge of Rochdale, has a history dating back to the 1800s, but closed down during the Covid-19 pandemic and never reopened.

Since 2021 it has remained vacant and fallen into disrepair, subsequently being put up for sale. Now plans have emerged to transform the site into an office block for a civil engineering firm named BDB Special Projects Ltd.

The proposal includes the demolition of the building’s extensions as well as building a new roof on the building due to safety concerns.

The Birtle Trust, a volunteer group which aims to preserve the natural and built environment locally, are deeply concerned with the plans. Their campaign has garnered over 400 objections to the plans on Rochdale council’s website.

Although they understand the historic pub needs a new lease of life, trust members have been put off by the spaces designed for trucks in the car park. The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands the Birtle Trust has no issue with the concept of the building being used for office space.

A member of the trust said: “Feelings are really high on this. No one wants HGVs going up and down that main road or on the bridleway.

“No one has a problem with offices but we don’t want the HGVs.”

The planning papers say the seven proposed spaces in the car park are not for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) but for light goods vehicles such as trucks and large vans used by the business. The idea behind this scheme is so the engineering firm can remain local and expand their business.

Planning papers read: “The company employs 12 office staff and around 70 site operatives and managers, most living within Greater Manchester. Turnover has grown to about £15m per annum.

“The current head office, a leased suite at The Bridge Inn (Heap Bridge), expires January 2027 and is no longer suitable for expansion. The directors are committed to remaining in the Rochdale area and investing in a permanent base that supports local employment.

“The Church Inn site offers the right scale, location and heritage character for this long-term occupation.”

It is understood that BDB are in communication with objectors about their concerns.

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