Developers draw up new plans for coaching house
8:57am Monday 29th October 2012 in News
NEW plans to transform Smithills Coaching house into houses have been submitted after the previous proposals were opposed by English Heritage.
The new proposals have done little to appease Bolton Civic Trust, however, who have described the development as “outrageous”.
The new scheme was given to the council last week after the original proposal to convert the grade II listed building into housing was scrapped because of English Heritage’s recommendations.
Developer Jones homes had said it needed more time to examine the concerns raised by the organisation, which was set up to protect the country’s historic buildings.
English Heritage raised concerns about the look of the development when viewed from Smithills Hall, and said it would not support plans to replace historic windows with double glazed fittings.
It also claimed that “insufficient information and expert advice” had been made available for the full impact of the proposals to be understood.
Under the original plans, Jones Homes wanted to convert the coaching house into eight homes and build 21 houses on surrounding greenbelt land.
The firm has now resubmitted its plans to Bolton Council, with several changes, including moving some of the proposed houses further away from woodland and relocation of a proposed electricity sub-station.
It also said it would follow English Heritage guidance about replacement windows.
The company has commissioned new artist impressions and compiled a report on the development’s potential impact.
The report said: “Neither the coach house nor the proposed development sites can be seen from most parts of the park and garden.
“The development will have no detrimental impact on landscape character or setting.”
Bolton Civic Trust chairman Brian Tetlow said: “We haven’t seen the new plans in detail yet so we’ll be meeting to discuss them “But the housing development is an outrageous proposal.
“This is a special place of historic significance and we don’t accept that there is any need for it.”
Jones Homes could not be reached for further comment.
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