D-day for homes on former school site

PLANS to build 143 homes on the site of the old Rochdale Boys Grammar School will be decided next week.

Rochdale planning and licensing committee is considering proposals for the development on land off Queen Victoria Street.

The grammar school was opened in 1953 at a cost of £180,000. It became Balderstone High School in 1969, later Balderstone Community School and Balderstone Technology College, before its closure in 2010.

The plans would see a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom homes on the site, which has been since been cleared.

Two letters of objection have been submitted to the council, raising concerns about noise and disturbance during the work.

But planning officers have recommended the proposals are approved.

A report to the committee states: “The scheme has been designed so as not to unacceptably affect the amenity of the nearest residential properties. The layout would also ensure that future occupiers of the units have acceptable outdoor amenity space. The objection received concerning potential construction impacts can be dealt with by a planning condition.”

“All other matters concerning design, flood risk, highways heritage, ecology and landscaping have been suitably addressed.”

The meeting takes place from 6.15pm on Monday at Number One Riverside.