THE Secretary of State has upheld a decision to reject plans to construct 62 homes on the former Stand Grammar School site in Whitefield.

His decision follows a public inquiry held last month after an appeal lodged by house developer Alfred McAlpine Homes North West Ltd.

The company wanted to build a mix of houses and flats on the site. Bury Council turned down the proposal, claiming that more homes could be built on the land in Church Lane.

A subsequent application for 80 houses by the developer has since been looked on more favourably by the council, subject to the provision of recreation facilities.

At the inquiry, Bury Council stated that the 62-home development was not of a high enough density to meet the minimum number of homes per hectare as advocated by government policy. But the company argued that the appeal site was for three units short of the minimum guidelines issued by the government of 30 units per hectare.

McAlpine's claimed that the guidance was not "cast in tablets of stone" but could be considered on the basis of the site in relation to its character and its surroundings.

In his written decision, inquiry inspector Mr John Braithwaite commented on the local authority's contention that a proposed density of less than 30 homes per hectare did not make the most efficient use of land.

He said: "In this regard the council referred to a similar application by the appellants for the same site.

"This application, which the council has yet to determine but which they are 'minded to approve', is for a proposed development of 80 dwellings at a density of about 37.3 dwellings per hectare.

"Both main parties, in their written submissions and at the inquiry, have compared the two proposals."

Mr Braithwaite added: "However, it is a well-established planning principle that a development proposal should be determined on its merits.

"Furthermore, the 'minded to approve' scheme was not a subject of the inquiry.

"The appellants have not provided any evidence to illustrate how they would be prevented from submitting a proposal that would, at least, satisfy the target of 30 dwellings per hectare.

"Such a proposal could be achieved without compromising the surrounding area or the quality of the environment."

In dismissing the appeal, the inspector concluded: "No justification has been provided for not meeting the Government's density target."