A retrospective planning application has been submitted for an unauthorised extension and metal shutters at a historic bank in Farnworth, after Bolton council ordered their removal.
Enforcement notice issued last month
Last month, Bolton council published an enforcement notice for the former NatWest building on the corner of Church Street, Farnworth, ordering the unauthorised work to be ripped down.
Three metal lean-to shutters were recently installed along the side of the building. Bolton council has said no planning permission was previously applied for or approved for the work and has set a deadline for demolition and removal.
Retrospective application submitted
In the past week, a retrospective planning application to formalise the work has been submitted. If the application is approved, it will supersede the enforcement action and the structure will be allowed to remain.
Applicant Farnworth Fresh Food has submitted the proposals. A planning statement said: “The application seeks retrospective consent for a single-storey extension to the commercial premises on the Church Street elevation, enclosed by three roller shutter doors.
“The structure runs across the lower part of the side elevation, below the line of the ground-floor window arches, and is finished in profiled metal with roller shutters in a recessive mid-grey.
“The works replace a pre-existing iron gate and railings that were in place at the side elevation when the lease commenced.”
Historic building's significance
The building was erected in 1876-77 as a branch of the Bank of Bolton. It more recently became a NatWest branch, which closed in May 2025. The building was designed by the eminent local architect George Woodhouse and is considered to be an important landmark in Farnworth, which the council considers to be a non-designated heritage asset.
The planning statement added: “The development causes no unacceptable harm to the character of the area, residential amenity or highway safety and supports the vitality of Farnworth town centre and local employment.”
Last month’s enforcement notice, published by the council, states that subject to any appeal being lodged, the unauthorised extension must be demolished and the roller shutter doors must be removed within two months of notice taking effect on September 30.
In April this year, plans were rejected by the council to transform a section of the building into a seven-bedroom shared house. Among the reasons given for refusal by the council was that the ‘small size of the kitchen and dining area and the lack of external amenity space is not capable of providing future residents with high standard of amenity’.
