Approval for apartment above former betting shop
PERMISSION has been granted to convert the upper floor of a former betting shop into an apartment.
The site of the former Ladbrokes bookies, on Bolton Street in Ramsbotton town centre, has been vacant for a short while and now Bury Council has approved its change of use.
A heritage statement has been produced as the property is within Ramsbottom Conservation Area, which is a designated heritage asset.
Bolton Street is identified as having a lively atmosphere and functions as a busy through road.
The street’s special interest derives particularly from the completeness of the groups of two-storey 19th century buildings and shopfronts, and the uneven roofline, indicative of piecemeal construction. The most prominent individual buildings are the former Baptist chapel, the Catholic church, and the tall former Co-operative buildings. The statement on behalf the applicant, said; “This application seeks planning permission for use of the upper floor of the premises as a residential apartment, retaining the ground floor use.
“Minimal physical alterations are proposed to the exterior of the building to enable the proposals.
“The proposed alterations to the property involve the installation of a new shopfront with timber frames and doors of a similar appearance and proportions to the existing shop front, making minor adjustments, enabling an entrance door to be provided to the upper floor flat.
“The application site is a double width property and the two evenly spaced doors interspersed with windows would provide a balanced appearance that would reflect the rhythm and pattern of commercial frontages on this terrace.
“The proposed changes to the frontage are sympathetically designed alterations and would have a neutral effect on the character of the existing building and would ensure that the character and quality of the building and its immediate environs would be preserved.
“The proposals would not affect any of the features of interest of the Market Place and Bolton Street North character area or the wider conservation area.”
Bury Council has informed the applicant that permission for the changes have been granted.