THE saga of the Horwich Grundy Fold Farm mansions is set to reignite in the coming weeks.

A four-day inquiry regarding an appeal over Bolton Council’s decision to order the five luxury homes to be torn down as they were bigger than the original planning permission allowed, and positioned in the wrong place, is set to be held on October 6, after delays due to the coronavirus lockdown.

A representative from the Grundy Fold Homeowners Association, said that it had been a very difficult period for the homeowners who had invested a lot of money into the properties.

The homeowners have spent a significant amount of money on the properties, offering to knock them down and rebuild them at the cost of over £1 million in 2019, however, this plan was rejected and subsequently appealed by the homeowners.

The offer was made to Bolton Council, to carry out the smaller demolition independently of the original developers, Sparkle Development Ltd, who it is understood is no longer involved in negotiations between the homeowners and the council’s planning department.

In a statement from the homeowners association, a spokesman said: “The development has hit rock bottom as sold by Sparkle Developments.

“Given various admissions of fault by Sparkle Developments in the 2018 planning committee hearing, the homeowners took over negotiations with the planning officers to find an amicable solution.

“We had hoped the planning committee would approve the homeowners' application which had the weight of an officers recommendation for approval in 2019.

“Twelve difficult months have passed, with a backdrop of an unresponsive developer, a pandemic, a postponed appeal and possibility of a second delay, and due to the rise of Covid-19 cases, more uncertainty looms.

"The "human" side of this complex development is taking a toll on all families, the financial burden is devastating, we have no choice but to follow through the process and correct the problems created by Sparkle Developments."

Speaking recently about the upcoming inquiry, Cllr John Walsh, chairman of Bolton Council’s planning committee, said there was no consensus either way on what should be done with the plans, with it being right to be going in front of the independent planning inspectorate.

The planning agents, Emery Planning, were approached for a comment. The Bolton News attempted to contact Sparkle Developments but has not received a response.