An appeal has been launched against the decision by Bolton Council to refuse permission for the removal of a dwarf wall at a listed building to allow a car to be parked there.

Plans were submitted in January this year for the building on Third Street which is a part of the Barrow Bridge Conservation Area just off Bazley Street, Smithills.

It is a mid-terrace stone cottage with a small front and rear garden and is part of a group of listed terraced dwellings.

The building was first given this status in 1974.

The proposal was to remove a small section of a dwarf wall and install cobble stones to match the surrounding area.

The applicant state that other streets in the area had carried out similar work and the dwarf wall was constructed after the property was originally built.

They stated there was no alternative parking provision nearby.

The said: “The proposal is very modest in its impact and will not detract from the main building itself.”

However planning officers disagreed and refused the application.

They said the main impacts on the proposals were the impact on the listed building and the impact on the character of the conservation area.

The report from officers stated: “The loss of the garden area which is defined by the draw wall and creation of hard standing for vehicle parking would be harmful to the character of the Barrow Bridge conservation area.

“It would also set an undesirable precedent in the conservation area which would diminish its special character.”

It added: “It is noted that there is little room for the parking or manoeuvring of motor vehicles other than the smallest of vehicles although there is evidence that some of the front areas have been cleared and hard standing created as at number 20 but no permission has been granted for this.”

The plans were rejected in April this year.

However now an appeal against the rejection has been lodged.