Plans for a 'flexible' HMO and hotel for up to 48 people in Leigh town centre are among the latest developments in Greater Manchester. The application for buildings on Railway Road seeks approval to convert the properties into a mixed hotel and HMO building with 39 bedrooms and a capacity for 48 people.
Mixed-use scheme in Leigh
The applicant, Oldham-based Spencer Reid Ltd, said the 'mixed use' element of the application would allow hotel stays for tourists and business visitors 'in the usual manner'. A design and access statement in support of the plans said: "Permission is sought for all rooms to be approved for hotel use and HMO use."
Manchester food hall revamp
New Century Hall, near Victoria station, has submitted plans to Manchester City Council for a major revamp including a new live music space, a pizza venue, and a bar. A report stated that the food hall 'has not proven commercially viable', prompting the venue to take a new approach. Planning documents explained: 'While the venue has successfully hosted events and performances, the day-to-day food hall operation has struggled due to the scale and character of the space and the building's location slightly removed from the primary retail and leisure core of the city centre.'
Salford HMO and housing plans
The former Bridgewater Hotel on Liverpool Road, Eccles, could be converted into a 19-bed HMO. The proposal, submitted to Salford Council by Mr Timothy Witt on behalf of Invest Multilet & PPB Ltd, includes major renovation works, turning the ground floor into seven en-suite bedrooms and a large shared kitchen, dining, and living area, and the second floor into 12 further bedrooms. Two additional smaller kitchen and dining areas would be provided 'to ensure there is sufficient provision of amenity space for daily cooking, eating and relaxation as well as to encourage social interaction'.
A new housing estate geared towards the orthodox Jewish community could also come to Higher Broughton. The application by Agudas Israel Housing Association (AIHA) and Jewish community charity Delapage Ltd aims to create 'much-needed' new homes 'carefully planned' to support the specific cultural needs of the community. The development would be built on the leftover foundations of Hanover Court, a 16-storey apartment block demolished in 2006, and includes a low-rise block with five supported living apartments and a community centre, alongside 24 three-storey family homes arranged around shared green space.
Stockport school rebuilds
Two schools in Stockport will be demolished and rebuilt after plans were approved at a council planning committee meeting on August 13. Moorfield Primary and Bramhall High School will be upgraded to tackle issues caused by ageing buildings, with funding from the Department for Education. In 2023, Bramhall High School was forced to close after dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was found, a type of concrete prone to sudden unexpected collapse.
Oldham car-free homes
Plans to build 28 'car-free' homes off Oldham Road in Failsworth could be given the go ahead. Specialist housebuilder City Shape submitted the application to Oldham council for a vacant site near Brookdale and Ridgefield Street. The area is 'fast transforming from commercial to residential', and the site has been used for ad-hoc, unsanctioned parking. A church on the site was demolished in 2013.
Wigan employment park and pharmacy
Peel Land has launched a public consultation for Haydock Point, a 1.3 million sq ft 'strategic employment destination' on former green belt land near Haydock Park racecourse. The developer said the development would bring up to 1,845 'higher-value and skilled jobs, improvements to the M6 Junction 23 Haydock Island and significant investment' to the area.
Plans have also been submitted to Wigan council for a new larger replacement pharmacy in Abram, with four apartments above. The current Abram Pharmacy on Warrington Road is 'not of a sufficient size to cater for existing and future needs as services adapt and expand'. If approved, the chemist will relocate to a new 2.5 storey building around 100 metres away on a vacant plot at the junction of Warrington Road with Kingsdown Road.
