Smithills Coaching House decision delayed

1:40pm Monday 13th August 2012 in Local

Smithills Coaching House decision delayed

A DECISION on whether Smithills Coaching house can be converted into homes has been delayed.

English Heritage, which is charged with the protection of the country’s historic buildings, has objected to proposals to convert the Grade II listed building into eight homes and build 21 houses on
surrounding greenbelt land.

Bolton Council ’s planning committee was due to make a decision about the scheme on August 23.

But this has now been delayed following English Heritage’s concerns — and no new date has been set.

A council spokesman said: “We’ve responded to this by cancelling a meeting planned for August 23 and will now talk to the applicant about the concerns of English Heritage and address the issues
raised by them.”

Developer Jones Homes claims the plans would prevent the building from falling into disrepair.

But following a meeting with Jones Homes at the site, English Heritage claims the proposals do not make clear how the development would impact on the surrounding gardens and the view from Smithills
Hall.

It also said it would not support plans to replace historic windows with double glazed fittings and claims that “insufficient information and expert advice” has been made available by the developer
for the full impact of the proposals to be understood.

A spokesman for English Heritage said: “English Heritage believes the applicant has not submitted sufficient evidence to enable the planning authority to make an informed judgement on the effect of
the proposed development on designated heritage assets and their settings and has advised that the application should not be decided until additional information is available.

“This is our principal concern at present. If the council wishes to determine the application without further information our advice is that the application should be refused. If the council were
to recommend the application for approval on the basis of the present information we will consider whether further action will be appropriate.

“Our initial view is it is likely the new development will have a harmful effect on the setting of the grade II Coaching House, the grade II landscape and the grade I listed Smithills Hall.”

Jones Homes has asked for time to consider English Heritage’s concerns.

Joe Savage, regional director at Jones Homes, said: “We are considering the comments made by English Heritage and are currently working with our heritage consultants and architects.”

Even if Bolton Council gives the development the go ahead it must be given final approval by the Secretary of State, where any unresolved objection by
English Heritage would carry considerable weight.

The Coaching House has been run as a restaurant for 46 years and will close on August 27 with all 30 staff made redundant .

Plans to convert it into homes have led to a storm of protest from angry residents, councillors and heritage campaigners.

Smithills councillor Roger Hayes said: “The concerns of English Heritage endorse many of those shared by local residents, in that they recognise that the proposed development will have an impact on
Smithills Hall and the estate in general. The Green Belt is also very important for this area and should be protected.”

Brian Tetlow, chairman of Bolton and District Civic Trust, said: “It’s commendable that English Heritage has exercised its right in questioning the development of a listed building.

“It’s another facet of this rather vexatious issue.”

Comments(13)

harry white2

says…

10:21am Mon 13 Aug 12

if it ever gets developed ,the future residents of the hallmay wish they should never have moved as the hall is said to be haunted by the ghost of George Marsh who was burned alive in 1555.Georges trial took place at the hall.
harry white2

harry white2

says…

10:21am Mon 13 Aug 12

if it ever gets developed ,the future residents of the hallmay wish they should never have moved as the hall is said to be haunted by the ghost of George Marsh who was burned alive in 1555.Georges trial took place at the hall.
harry white2

MsMooseGirl

says…

10:36am Mon 13 Aug 12

Ha Ha, this will annoyed a few in the council no doubt!
MsMooseGirl

Phil from Smithills

says…

12:19pm Mon 13 Aug 12

[quote][p][bold]harry white2[/bold] wrote:
if it ever gets developed ,the future residents of the hallmay wish they should never have moved as the hall is said to be haunted by the ghost of George Marsh who was burned alive in 1555.Georges trial took place at the hall.[/p][/quote]I know a rangers who worked there, and I am reliably informed they have seen nor heard anything spooky.
Phil from Smithills

DaveLister

says…

12:49pm Mon 13 Aug 12

I just hope they have a good fire alarm system in there, I wouldn’t like the hall to same way as the Greenwood in Horwich.
DaveLister

ruined heritage

says…

2:35pm Mon 13 Aug 12

Yet again a developer buys a heritage asset hoping to fast track it through the planning system and in the process shows little or no regard for its listed status, ignores EH rules and assumes the council will give the green light to an application that requires an enabler in greenbelt land. A similar think happened to Winstanley Hall in Wigan, after years of planning issues the developer has decided to let the asset crumble to the ground as they under estimated EH regulations, ignored covenants and not to mention the councils rules regarding development in greenbelt!
ruined heritage

stantheman133

says…

4:06pm Mon 13 Aug 12

You are probably right ( David Lister) it probably will go up in flames if they cannot build– that would be the end of the problem and the council would be smiling again. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stantheman133

Rememberscarborough

says…

5:28pm Mon 13 Aug 12

[quote][p][bold]DaveLister[/bold] wrote:
I just hope they have a good fire alarm system in there, I wouldn’t like the hall to same way as the Greenwood in Horwich.[/p][/quote]If the police have the expectation that a crime is going to be committed they have a duty to speak to those who might carry out any such crime. Arson is a crime and the police must take action to prevent any damage to a historic building like Smithills Coaching House. Whether this is a quiet word or more direct action like surveillance is a matter for them but events like those in Croydon show that police forces must meet a certain level of performance otherwise their senior officers will face serious questions about their capability to carry out their duties.
Rememberscarborough

derekspets

says…

8:05pm Mon 13 Aug 12

surly the coaching house could be changed into an upmarket bed and breakfast without changing the exterior and damaging the country side around . allready got a big car park.
derekspets

macauley

says…

9:30pm Mon 13 Aug 12

just let tesco have it.
macauley

lifes issues

says…

10:51pm Mon 13 Aug 12

I would agree to changeing it into a hotel or somthing .This building is our past our history .This building is older than most cities in the world and yes it is a fine building built by the worlds best builders Engliah way to go .My wife is American and says the English structures alone have so much History .I alone have good family history there and would loose the good times with lossing the building
lifes issues

DouglasMills

says…

5:31pm Tue 14 Aug 12

[quote][p][bold]derekspets[/bold] wrote:
surly the coaching house could be changed into an upmarket bed and breakfast without changing the exterior and damaging the country side around . allready got a big car park.[/p][/quote]Are you going to make an offer?
DouglasMills

derekspets

says…

10:13pm Tue 14 Aug 12

wish I had won the euro lottery and I might do ?
derekspets

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