‘Quality homes’ plan for the site of former mill
It’s an ice life for cool customers by the river
MORE than 300 ‘high quality’ new homes are planned for the site of an old cotton mill that burned down over 20 years ago.
Developer Kellen Homes Ltd has submitted full plans for the former Rex Mill site in Middleton.
The proposals would see 330 houses - ranging from one-bed mews properties to large detached properties - built on a 30-acre piece of land off Don Street.
Planning documents say that ‘the location of the site represents an opportunity to create a well-designed, high-quality residential development’.
The River Irk will run through the heart of the development, which the applicant says has been designed to ‘ complement the surrounding area, create local identity and reduce anti-social behaviour.
Documents add that this would have a ‘positive’ impact on the area, “in filling the space between existing estates and nearby open spaces’.
And it is claimed the scheme would deliver ‘considerable benefits in the form of a range of different tenure types.
Just over a third of the homes would be ‘affordable’, with the rest split roughly equally between houses for market-rate sale and private rent.
The estate has been designed to create a ‘pleasant, low-traffic environment’, preserving ‘existing site features such as trees and hedges in order to screen the development’ from neighbouring residential areas. And it would be split into four distinct ‘character areas’, which include:
Green Edge - Featuring a ‘diverse mix’ of properties overlooking the denser, wooded parts of the estate.
Riverside - Almost exclusively semi-detached, this creates a ‘ consistent visual style’ across the riverfront.
The Lanes - The centre of the development, made up of higher density dwellings, including semis and mews-style properties.
Boulevard - This follows the spine road east-towest through the estate. It features generally larger houses typified by their ‘generous frontages’.
The layout of the estate has also been drawn up to ‘design out crime’, with all public areas created within the development overlooked by houses.
Every house within the estate would enjoy ‘adequate private family gardens as well as their own ‘designated off-street’ parking space. Some 717 spaces are proposed for the development in total
Planning documents also note that the area is wellserved by public transport and that eateries, pharmacies, shops and religious establishments are all within 1km of the site.
The design and access statement reads: “Due to the site’s close proximity to services and public transport, reliance on the private car will be reduced, which can only have a positive impact on the environment’.
However, it is further noted that Middleton has ‘excellent access to the rest of Greater Manchester area and the north via the M62 and M60’.
AN application for a certificate of lawfulness has been made for a proposed single storey rear extension at 35 Marland Old Road, Rochdale, following demolition of a conservatory. ●● AN application has been submitted for a nonmaterial amendment to a previously submitted application for Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, Chichester Street, Rochdale to alter the layout of the portacabin by switching the ground and upper floors. ●● AN application has been submitted to build a residential development of 330 dwellings on land off Don Street, Middleton, including infrastructure, landscaping and also access. ●● AN application has been made for a non-material amendment to a planning application previously submitted for Middleton Campus, Hopwood Hall College, Rochdale Road, Middleton, comprising of updated internal layouts, elevations (repositioned air conditioning units) and changes to external works. ●● A RESUBMITTED application has been made for Branch Road Farm, Branch Road, Littleborough, to reconstruct a partially demolished barn to a four-bedroom dwelling and replacement single storey rear extension. ●● AN application has been submitted for a new single storey side extension at Zion Baptist Church,
Milkstone Road, Rochdale, together with roof skylights and roof mounted solar panels. ●● AN application has been submitted for 7 And 15 Church Lane, Rochdale, for the installation of security fencing up to 1.4m high at the front and 2.4m high security fencing and gates between numbers 7 and 15. ●● AN application has been made for the application of a white render to all sides of a property at 15 Derwent Avenue, Milnrow, including anthracite cladding to the front elevation and side dormer extension, and alterations to the front windows. ●● DETAILS have been submitted for Higher Elbut Farm, Birtle Riding Centre, Elbut Lane, Heywood, to comply with conditions relating to tree protection, HBMS, CRMS, Phase 2 Land and CMS on a previously submitted application. ●● AN application for a certificate of lawfulness has been made for a proposed single-storey rear extension at 5 Galbraith Way, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a front porch and two-storey side extension at 13 Burdett Avenue, Rochdale, along with a single-storey rear extension. ●● AN application for a certificate of lawfulness has been made for a proposed single storey side extension at 14 Ellis Fold, Rochdale, together with a garage conversion and render to the front of the property.
●● AN application has been submitted for the removal and replacement of two existing 96 sheet advertising display units on billboards on either side of the building at 14-18 Rochdale Road East, Heywood, together with two internally illuminated 96 sheet digital display units. ●● DETAILS have been submitted for St Margaret’s, Stanycliffe Lane, Middleton, to comply with conditions regarding SI, SWD, drainage, materials, car parking, levels, biodiversity, landscaping and boundary fencing on a previously submitted application. ●● AN application for a certificate of lawfulness has been made for a proposed loft conversion at 135 Mossway, Middleton, together with a velux roof window to the rear. ●● AN application has been submitted for a single storey rear extension to two properties at 78-80 Mossway, Middleton. ●● AN application has been submitted for the request of a Tree Preservation Order on land to the rear of 19 Yates Street, Middleton, to protect two Sycamore trees and two American Sycamore trees. ●● A RESUBMITTED application has been made to build a threebedroom detached dwelling on land next to Archer Cottage, Sefton Road, Middleton, along with decking to the rear including access, parking and landscaping. ●● AN application has been submitted for a two-storey rear extension at 51 Knowl Road, Milnrow, including alteration of windows on the side following demolition of a conservatory. ●● A RETROSPECTIVE application has been made for New Street Farm, New Street, Littleborough, for a field and woodland area to be used as a recreational field for dogs including the installation of moveable agility equipment, fencing and gates. ●● AN application has been submitted for a proposed new garage at 8 Oakhurst Drive, Wardle, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a two-storey side extension at 159 Featherstall Road, Littleborough. ●● AN application has been made to construct a detached dwelling on land next to 1A Whittle Lane, Heywood. ●● TWO applications have been submitted to use land between 171 and 175 Windermere Road, Middleton, as a temporary materials storage area, along with new 2.1m high perimeter fencing to the side and rear with access gates. The plans also include advertisement hoarding to the front of the site together with two externally illuminated V stack signs. ●● AN application has been made for a non-material amendment to a previously submitted application for land off Newby Drive, Middleton, in relation to amending the hard and soft landscaping of plot 23.
INSIDE the Lodge, the oldest remaining mill in Middleton, there’s a little shop selling artisan ice cream - and it just so happens to be the only place in the town with riverside seating.
All of the ice cream is made locally, just down the road from the mill, and you can enjoy all the classic flavours as well as some more unusual ones too.
These include bubblegum, bakewell tart, fruit cake, tiramisu and parma violet. And there’s even milkshakes too.
The Ice Cream Shop at Lodge is run by husband and wife duo Martin Cove and Paula Hickey with the help of a friend.
They took the bold stop of buying the huge derelict mill in April 2019 and are still working hard to fully develop the building.
They’re both property developers, but for them, this project is personal - and is a way for them to give back to the community they love.
Paula’s interest in the mill started 20 years ago.
For years, she would pass the mill every day on her journey back from work in Manchester City Centre, and would always, without fail, make comments about just how much she liked the building.
“She loved the arched windows, but it was just getting more and more derelict,” Martin said.
“And then one day we saw a For Sale sign.”
Around 90 per cent of the properties the couple have restored have been in conservation areas. As Martin puts it, ‘saving old buildings is the ultimate form of recycling’.
But this project is more personal to them - and a lot bigger. They’ve even had to remortgage some of their properties to make the dream happen.
Referring to the costs and the size of the project, Martin said: “This is four times bigger than anything we’ve ever done.”
The couple are submitting planning permission to turn the top three floors into 17 one and two bedroom flats. However, they want to create spaces that can be used by the local community too.
Martin says that his family have lived in Middleton for eight generations and that he wants to support people in the town.
The ground floor of the building is going to be transformed into a space for craft stalls, where local artists will be able to sell and create work, it’s hoped. Meanwhile, the engine house will be transformed into a flexible events space.
A few events have already taken place, with 20 stall craft fair taking place in the venue earlier this month. Martin has lots of plans for upcoming events, including a Halloween event inspired by the Luddites who burned down mills in the area.
The ice cream shop in the mill, which is on Townley Street, is open between 1pm and 6pm whenever the sun’s out.