Developer and contractor, Watson, has had plans approved for two housing sites in Bolton – Creams Mill and Hall Lane in Little Lever after a lengthy appeal process.

Initial plans were submitted to deliver new homes on two sites adjacent to Little Lever in November 2020 and later refused in December 2021. The appeal process began in June 2022.

Led by P4 Planning, the sites include Creams Mill and land off Mytham Road along with land at Hall Lane which is situated 1.4km to the west. The sites lie within the Green Belt and are connected by the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal, which has been out of use since it was breached in 1936.

The regeneration scheme will see a mixed-tenure development of 255 homes, comprising one, two, three and four-bedroom houses and apartments, with spacious living areas, private gardens and designated parking areas for residents. 154 units (61%) will be affordable, with the remainder as open market homes. Watson will be working with housing association partners to deliver the affordable housing across the development. 

The plans include the remediation and re-development at the former Creams Paper Mill site, which has been vacant since 2004 and is allocated for housing. A significant part of the development will see the repair of the 60m breach and the restoration of a 700m stretch of the canal to bring it back into water for the first time in 86 years. 

Designed by TADW Architects, the homes will incorporate renewable energy technology, including air-source heat pumps, to lower the cost of hot water and energy for residents and reduce the environment impact of the overall development. 

The development will remove invasive species and introduce new public walkways alongside the River Irwell, improving access for the local community to the adjacent Moses Gate Country Park. 

In allowing the appeal, the planning inspector agreed with the planning case presented, that the proposed market and affordable homes along with the restoration of the canal comprised the very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposed development in the Green Belt.  

Gillian Worden, director P4 Planning, said “There is a national housing crisis and an even more acute need for affordable homes.  Local house builders have an important role to play in tackling this and increasing housing supply.  This development will help address Bolton’s significant overall housing shortfall and realise a long-term dream of restoring the canal and seeing it back in use, helping to justify development in the Green Belt.”  

Rob Watson, director at Watson, said: “We are delighted to see the approval of our planning appeal for the regeneration of Creams Mill and Hall Lane.  The Inspector agreed that there is a desperate need for new housing in Bolton and this development will play a significant role in the delivery of both affordable and market housing.  Our development enables the restoration of the 1936 breach in the Manchester Bury Bolton Canal and returns this section of canal to water.  We are excited to see the benefits this restoration project will bring to Little Lever.”

Watson will be working with housing association partners to deliver the affordable housing across the development

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