Firm gets go-ahead to reduce chimney
A DEVELOPER has been granted planning permission to more than halve the height of a landmark 19th Century mill chimney.
The 130ft tall Dexine mill chimney has towered over the Spotland Bridge area since the 1870s.
But Hallmark Developments, which is planning to convert the old mill into 22 flats and also build 80 new houses on the site, has now been given the green light to drastically reduce its height.
The move comes despite council planning officers recommending permission was rejected because the work would strip the chimney of its ‘landmark’ status.
A report which went before the Planning and Licensing Committee last week said: “It is without doubt that the chimney is a landmark feature and is significant as a remnant of the cotton industry which once dominated Spotland.
“Moreover, the century old chimney contributes considerably to the feel of the locality and it helps to form its character.
“It is a feature of high significance which helps to define the local character and it contributes significantly to the character and appearance of the conservation area.
“As a result of the proposed reduction in height of the chimney to 15m, its prominence within the conservation area would be greatly reduced and it would no longer be a landmark feature.”
But councillors voted in favour of granting planing permission.
A decision notice published on the council’s website says: “The proposal complies with the development plan and would improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area.”
Hallmark Developments had previously said repairing the chimney would be ‘uneconomic’ because it has ‘no viable use.’
In its application the developer also said the chimney, and associated mill buildings, also ‘pose a risk to life’ and said the site was an arson risk despite security measures which have been put in place.