Much-loved green space saved as plans for 'rabbit hutch' flats are thrown out by councillors

A much-loved green space has been saved after plans for ‘rabbit hutch’ flats were thrown out by councillors.

The scheme would have seen a pair of two-storey blocks built on a half-acre site between Broad Street, Yates Street and Chapel Street, in the Rhodes area of Middleton.

Brought forward by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) , the proposals included eight two-bed apartments for ‘affordable rent’, served by an access road off Broad Street.

The 'walk up homes' - each having their own front door, without any internal communal area or stairs - were said to be particularly suitable for people with mobility issues. But residents lodged 27 objections over the loss of the green space - which is said to be well-used by the community, particularly children - as well as the felling of four mature trees, road safety and parking issues.

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The council’s planning committee ultimately agreed, refusing the application by a majority vote when it met at Number One Riverside on Thursday night. It came despite planning officers recommending approval of the scheme, advising that it would make ‘efficient use of the site’ and ‘not unacceptably restrict access to local open space’.

Greg Milton, of BYA Architects, spoke in support of the application on behalf of RBH. Mr Milton told councillors the proposal would bring ‘much needed affordable rented accommodation in an under-used site in a well-populated area to complement the surrounding housing’.

He added that the ‘category 2’ accommodation would benefit people of ‘limited mobility’ to live near the centre of the town. And he said that, while four trees would be lost, these