DEVELOPMENT: Building work taking place at the former Smithills Coaching House
THE developer behind controversial plans to convert Smithills Coaching House into a luxury housing estate has applied to build two more homes on the site — after predicting losses of more than £240,000 on the project.
Jones Homes has been working to transform the Grade II listed 17th century building into housing and is also creating 21 new homes on green belt land surrounding the site.
The coaching house and stables are located in Smithills Country Park and once served Smithills Hall.
A revised proposal has now been submitted to Bolton Council asking for permission to build two extra properties at the coaching house.
Jones Homes also want to change plans to make five of the planned two-storey houses into three-storey houses and for another to have extra rooms in the roof.
The developers have previously said that all of the homes will include many original features such as exposed stonework and timberwork from the original listed building.
A planning statement from the developers said: “The development is making significant losses as a result of the extensive unexpected costs of refurbishment because of the buildings poor state of repair.
“The amendment is sought to increase the income from the enabling new built development to ensure the refurbishment of the coaching house can be completed.”
Jones Homes believes that even with the revised application it will make a loss of more than £240,000 on the project.
Smithills councillor Roger Hayes fought against the initial plans for the housing development and said local people were worried about the latest development.
He said: “The big concern for people is regarding the enabling work on the coaching house — we were told that the developer had the money to fund the conservation of the building.
“The conversions of a Grade II listed building do cost a lot of money but I would have thought that if you are planning to carry out such a project you should do a due diligence report to take account of that.
“Why should the council allow the developers to get out of its problem by building more houses?”
Jones Homes insists that construction at the site is progressing well, sales and marketing director Denise Caldwell said: “The development is starting to take shape.
“With build well underway and the refurbishment project coming to an end, over the course of the next couple of months we will start to see some real changes at the development.”
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