Some 60 flats could be constructed on the site of a former care home, according to new plans submitted by Watson Homes to Bury Council. The company has proposed the demolition of Spurr House, Pole Lane, Unsworth, a single-storey building erected in 1980 that previously functioned as a care home.
Last year, planning permission was granted to convert the building into a pupil referral unit, but these plans have not been implemented. At that time, it was stated that the site was 'beginning to fall into a state of disrepair' and there was 'no economic use for the building in its current form'.
Watson indicated that if the demolition proceeds, a second application for 60 apartments will be submitted in January 2025, a matter that has already been discussed with the council in pre-application discussions, reports . The Spurr House site is situated in a predominantly residential area, bordered by Unsworth Cricket and Tennis Club to the south, residential development to the north and west, and Unsworth Academy to the east.
A covering letter with the application stated: "Watson intends to redevelop the site to deliver housing on the site in due course subject to receiving planning permission.
"To access brownfield housing funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, they are required to commence work on site by March 1, 2025. To meet these timescales, Watson is applying separately for the demolition of the building and will be submitting the application for residential development in January 2025.
"The clearance of the site enables the developer to access funding to facilitate the redevelopment of the site to deliver affordable housing and assist the council in their delivery of their housing requirement."
The letter stated that the redevelopment will result in the loss of 16 trees, with access to the site provided from Pole Lane if the application is successful. Bury Council is set to review the demolition application in the upcoming weeks.
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