PLANS to rebuild two hillside mansions demolished after they were built too big and in the wrong place will be put before councillors this week.

Last year, five partially-built mansions were ordered to be torn down after a planning inspector dismissed appeals from the house owners.

The luxury detached properties, at Grundy Fold Farm, off Chorley Old Road, for which Bolton Council issued an enforcement notice for demolition in 2018, were up to a third bigger and in different locations than allowed, a planning inquiry heard.

Dismissing the appeal by the plot owners last May, a planning inspector gave the householders a year to demolish the structures and return the site to its previous form.

That project has largely been completed in the past few months, with the structures pulled down by contractors.

Planning permission was initially granted for the conversion of the former farmhouse at the site and four new homes around a central courtyard in 2014.

The owner of the farmhouse plot and another of the house owners have submitted plans to rebuild the houses in separate applications to be put before Bolton’s planning committee on Thursday, March 24.

 

The Grundy Fold Farm site

The Grundy Fold Farm site

The Grundy Fold Farm site

The Grundy Fold Farm site

 

The owners of plot 5 at the site, which was to be the refurbished farmhouse, named on the application as Mr and Mrs Thompson are seeking to build a home there.

However, planning officers have recommended refusal of the plans as there has only ever been previous planning permission granted for a refurbishment and the previous farmhouse was demolished.

An officer’s report to councillors, said: “Plot 5 is the site of the former farmhouse demolished in 2016 and an unauthorised dwelling was subsequently built on the plot.

“This unauthorised dwelling along with the other four unauthorised dwellings at Grundy Fold Farm have been subject to numerous refused planning applications, the serving of an enforcement notice for their demolition, and a dismissed combined planning and enforcement appeal.

“Plot 5 did have planning permission for alterations to and the extension of the farmhouse building but as the farmhouse was demolished in 2016 this previously approved dwelling cannot be built.

“Officers consider that the proposed development would constitute inappropriate development in the green belt.

“Officers do not agree with the applicant that the erection of a new dwelling at Plot 5 could be described as a replacement dwelling, with the original farmhouse having been demolished and in any event the new dwelling would be materially larger than the original.”

The owner of plot 4at the site, Hasan Ayirgan has also applied to rebuild a home at the site with some variations from the existing planning permission granted 2014.

The changes include re-orientating the dwelling so its front elevation now faces north, repositioning the detached garage and removing an arched porch.

Planning officers have recommended the committee approve that application.