Blackrod: House plan on historic Boardman Street deferred

The proposal to build a new detached house off Boardman Street in Blackrod had prompted concerns from several people living in the area about accessibility and preserving the area’s character.

Cllr Sue Baines was amongst those worried about what it could mean and had asked for the idea to be debated by Bolton Council’s planning committee.

She said: “A site visit was done and we were quite shocked actually when we went down.”

She added: “There is nowhere for vehicles to turn around, so much so that the developer says he will allow his land to be used for people to turn around which again is not a formal arrangement.”

The plan will see a new three bedroom house built (Image: Bolton Council)

The plans for the house are for a single, part two storey in height building including three bedrooms, two with ensuite bathrooms, a living room, a bathroom an integral garage at ground floor and a kitchen/diner on the first floor, and a balcony.

Cllr Baines told the committee that the cottages in the area dates all the way back to the 1860s and that their owners and other people in the community were concerned about how a new building may not been in keeping with the historic area.

She also laid out concerns about congestion across Blackrod.

Along with Cllr Baines, who represents Horwich and Blackrod on Bolton Council, eight people had sent in letters of objection with concerns ranging from loss of light, to the impact on the environment, to the potential for noise.

Cllr David Grant also raised concerns about whether residents had been given enough information about access to their gardens and said he was troubled by the apparent lack of guarantees given about access.

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Blackrod Town Council had also requested back in August 2022 that the plans be deferred because of what they believed to be inaccuracies in the application.

With these issues having been raised, the committee unanimously voted to defer the plans until a further site visit could be carried out.

They will return for a final vote on the plans at a later date.