Plans submitted to turn Middleton Subway restaurant into nail bar

Saturday, 4 July 2026 19:11

By David Murphy

A planning application has been submitted to convert a Subway restaurant in Middleton town centre into a nail bar.

The proposal has been lodged with Rochdale Council for the unit at 16 Middleton Gardens.

JR Planning Consultants has applied for permission to change the use of the premises, which sits between Cash Generator and The Roebuck public house.

Planning documents argue that the proposal would secure the continued occupation of the unit while supporting the vitality and viability of Middleton town centre.

The applicant says the nail bar would provide a customer facing service that would encourage linked visits to nearby shops, cafes, pubs and other businesses.

The planning statement says the proposal would maintain an active ground floor frontage and add to the mix of businesses already operating in the town centre.

The application also argues that the use would support the local economy by attracting regular visitors and providing employment.

One issue identified in the application is that the unit is designated for retail use. However, the planning statement refers to a previous planning appeal involving nearby premises that are now occupied by Jeffries Amusements.

According to the application, a planning inspector concluded in that case that although the proposal conflicted with a local retail policy, the conflict carried limited weight because of changes to planning legislation that provide greater flexibility for town centre premises.

The inspector also found that the approved leisure use would generate footfall, encourage linked trips and support the vitality and viability of Middleton town centre.

JR Planning Consultants argues that the same reasoning applies to the proposed nail bar, stating that it would provide a complementary town centre use without harming the area's retail function.

The planning application is awaiting a decision from Rochdale Council.