A decision is set to be made on a controversial proposal to build a home near Green Belt land and Grade II listed buildings in Oldham.
On Wednesday (May 5), Oldham Council's planning committee will meet to discuss plans to build a four-bedroom house on land off Stockport Road in Lydgate.
Two previous applications have been submitted to build the home, both of which have been rejected, however the plans might go ahead this time, with this proposal being recommended for approval.
The site lies near both St Anne's Church and the White Hart Inn, both of which are Grade II listed buildings, as well as the site being just 45 metres north of the Lydgate Conservation Area and near Green Belt land.
The previous applications were rejected on grounds of impact on the Green Belt and potential harm to the Lydgate Conservation Area, however the latest proposal shows the property would not infringe on Green Belt land.
Dozens of comments have been left online in opposition to the proposal by residents of the area.
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These letters of objection have highlighted issues people have with the proposed development, which largely focus on it being an inappropriate development in the area and the impact it would have on the landscape.
As well as many members of the public, the application has been opposed by the Saddleworth Parish Council, which has objected to the plans on the grounds that the home would be "totally out of character with the surrounding area".
After the initial proposal was rejected in 2021, an appeal was launched, however the Planning Inspectorate deemed that the proposal was inappropriate.
A second application was rejected last year, however the third proposal has been recommended for approval.
According to an application report prepared by council planning officer Sophie Leech, the home would now be developed outside of Green Belt land and would be an appropriate distance from the heritage sites, and therefore "would not introduce an unacceptable impact upon the setting of the designated heritage assets".
A decision will be made by the planning committee next week.
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