A Lidl supermarket, apartments, pitches for Bromley Cross FC and a car park for Bromley Cross train station are back before Bolton Council after their approval was quashed by the High Court.

The application for land off Darwen Road was approved by the council almost two years ago but was quashed after a challenge by the Co-Operative Group Ltd was successful at the start of 2022.

Co-Op Group Ltd, which has a supermarket of its own on the same road, based its case on the availability, or otherwise, of evidence about the viability of the development, which includes a combination of developed land and undeveloped land in the Green Belt and includes the demolition of what was Hollands Nurseries.

Now this evidence is available and the development is ready for reconsideration by the Planning Committee when it meets at the town hall next week.

Co-Op Group Ltd remains in opposition, as do a number of residents, but councillors are recommended to refer the application to the Director of Place, who in turn is recommended to refer it to the Secretary of State for approval. 

The director must prepare a Section 106 Agreement to set out the requirements the applicant, Lidl Great Britain Ltd, must meet before or during the work.

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A report reads: "It has been recognised by officers that the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and that there would be some harm to the character and appearance of the area owing to the loss of the trees along the Darwen Road boundary of the site. Officers however consider that the other considerations put forward by the applicant clearly outweigh the totality of the harm such that the special circumstances exist.

"Members are therefore recommended to delegate the decision to the director to secure the signing of the accompanying Section 106 Agreement and to enable the decision to be referred to the Secretary of State. The decision would need to be referred to the Secretary of State as the development comprises inappropriate development on land located as Green Belt and includes the provision of buildings with over 1,000 square metres of floorspace."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.