A CONSTRUCTION company has once again failed to get a decision to refuse permission to turn what was a Greenfield greengrocers’ shop into flats overturned.
Aspire Construction Projects, who are based in Diggle, wanted to knock down the standing property on Greenbridge Lane and construct a new building housing four flats.
Oldham Council said no, as it did with a previous application to build above the current structure in 2020.
But Victoria Kilgannon of the firm went back to the Planning Inspectorate to try and get their verdict quashed, just as she did when the first approach was turned down.
However, after a visit to the site in November, inspector Frances Harrison sided with the authority.
In her report, she states: “The proposed three-storey building would not reflect the scale and mass of properties that predominate on Greenbridge Lane and Chew Valley Road.
“It would be a visually discordant addition in both street scenes due to the height and bulk of the roof and the failure to respond to the prevailing pattern of roofs as they step down along Greenbridge Lane.
“The development would be unduly prominent, and it would stand out as being visually incongruous.
“Furthermore, the proposed number, size and arrangement of window openings would be at odds with the existing rhythm of fenestration in the area.
“The increase in the number of windows across three main rows would unbalance the otherwise harmonious elevation treatment along the street.
“Moreover, the proposed openings would not relate well to the spacings between the upper and lower openings of other properties along Greenbridge Lane.
“The proposal would have a poor degree of integration with the adjoining building. Overall, it would detract from the character and appearance of the area.
“The proposal would cause harm to the character and appearance of the area.”
The once popular shop closed in April 2020 after Jill and Jim Stanford called time on their fish, fruit and veg business after nearly 35 years.
And this application has a family connection of Victoria is their daughter.
Saddleworth Parish Council also objected to the plans, stating the two additional storeys would be, ‘visually overbearing and detrimental to character and appearance of street scene, particularly looking up Greenbridge Lane from the south.’
It also said it wanted to keep retail premises in Greenfield.
I agree we have enough flats and houses in Greenfield
We have two schools and one Doctors which opens
Part time. So yes no more please it is suppose to be a village not an housing estate .
Agreed! Let’s keep Greenfield green.
I quite agree I have brought over 2000 square foot of shop space to Boarshurst business park the former Donkey Stone Brewery,not a greengrocers but Smokless Coal , Kiln dried Logs ,Calor Gas , pet supplies including raw dog food , garden products compost and much more Fitch First Supports Greenfield but you’ve got use it or loose it http://www.fitchfirst.co.uk
I really wish it could be a shop again. We’ve lost so many shops in Greenfield over the years.
So agree
If they hired a proper architect they might stand a chance of getting a new scheme through, but continually applying for the same flawed over-developed design time and time again doesn’t help anyone. The site urgently needs proper regeneration.
Doesn’t make sense – why would anyone keep on re-applying for a scheme that’s so awful? It’s like some weird form of entitlement, banging on and on like a child until they get what they want. Why don’t they just stop flogging a dead horse and sell the site to someone who knows how to do it properly?