New 28-home plan for ‘Grains Bar village’ green belt location

A green belt hilltop location in Shaw could be developed to provide nearly 30 new homes and more than 80 extra car parking spaces.

But a Grade II listed building on the proposed 1.85 hectares development site off Buckstones Road is not under threat.

An application (PA/343654/19) from Rowan Ashworth, submitted by agent Garry Griffiths of HNA Architects Ltd, would see the construction of 28 residential dwellings and associated landscaping at Burn Farm.

The current provision of 13 parking spaces would be increased to 100 for cars if plans are approved.

All existing buildings and structures would be demolished, with the exception of Burn Farmhouse.

Over the years, the site, close to the Black Ladd public house and next to a public footpath, has been used for commercial purposes rather than agricultural activities.

Initial pre-planning advice was sought from Oldham Council’s former chief planner Stephen Irvine in August 2018.

Further talks with planners took place in April 2019 when it was agreed to reduce the proposed properties from three to two storeys in height.

Burn Farmhouse and adjoining barn, built in the mid 18th century, was designated Grade II in 1987.

However, a report submitted last month to existing planning documents says the nearest house would be approximately 18 metres away from the listed building, to the south.

The proposals would require the demolition of several late 20th century commercial and former farm buildings.

However, there would be no work to the fabric of the listed building itself.

Advice issued by Oldham Council on September 13, confirmed Listed Building Consent was not needed.

And a report states: “The setting of the listed building, Burn Farmhouse, would be enhanced through the demolition of the surrounding commercial structures and the creation of its own dedicated curtilage.

“This heritage asset would be retained and it would form a key gateway feature into the development from Buckstones Road and would enjoy a significantly increased visual presence within the street scene.”

And a Heritage and Planning document submitted in favour of the development says: “The growth of Oldham is heavily constrained by the designated Green Belt and the release of our client’s site for housing within the short-term would help to meet identified housing needs in a highly sustainable manner whilst relieving the development pressure on more sensitive greenfield and Green Belt sites across the Borough.”

However, it also states: “There are a number of services within the village of Grains Bar including the Black Land Public House (sic), the Kings Arms Public House, the Vamasaki restaurant (currently closed) and regular bus services.”

New documentation was uploaded to Oldham Council’s planning portal on October 17.

A spokesperson for Oldham Council said: “The application is presently subject to detailed consideration and at this stage no decision date, or confirmation whether this will be considered at Planning Committee, has been reached.”