Plan for homes next to Bolton Rugby Club given go-ahead

Bolton at Home submitted its proposal for the land off Avenue Street, Halliwell, on June 24 this year.

As the council is the landowner, the plan for more than 40 "affordable" homes – a combination of flats and houses – was considered by the planning committee on Thursday, December 8.

The planning committee was recommended to approve the proposal and, after a speech by Bolton at Home head of development Paul Philbin, it was unanimous in its support. 

The application reads: "The site comprises of grass and woodland and is bordered to the north and the east by residential properties. 

"To the south there is a field which is associated with Bolton Rugby Club. To the west are two reservoirs and associated overflows.

"The site is less than two kilometres from the town centre and can be accessed via Chorley Old Road.

"The overall area is 22,980 square metres and is currently unused public open space (mix of grass and woodland) with signs of neglect and fly-tipping, remnants of a previously decommissioned playground and a footpath which crosses the site."

The homes are broken down into 16 one-bedroom flats and 28 two-to-four-bedroom houses. All of these are two storeys, other than an apartment block containing most of the flats.

Their construction involves the loss of a significant amount of woodland next to Bolton Rugby Club, although Bolton at Home intends to replace it with more of the same in the open space to remain.

Cllr Nick Peel, of Tonge with the Haulgh Ward, told the committee: "The recreational land that's there at the moment is not in a great condition.

"What's proposed here is an enhanced recreational area for people to use. 

"That's the key whenever we have these developments in urban areas, we have to make sure the residents get something back. What they are getting back here is an enhanced recreational area so that's ticked the box."

After a vote, the scheme was given the green light unanimously.