PLANNING permission has been granted for a unique housing development in Ramsbottom.

The futuristic-looking self-build project on land close to Heatherside Road was granted approval following a meeting of Bury Council’s Planning Committee late last month.

Built into a slope, the family home will feature a collection of "sheds" with incredible panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

According to the architect behind the development, the proposed family home has been designed "in a manner which seeks to present a design philosophy of a modern but low-key agricultural appearance alongside the use of traditional and locally sourced materials, including stone from a local quarry."

The proposed home is the result of a long consultation with the planning committee supporting the notion of a dwelling in the location as well as encouraging the significant benefits in terms of biodiversity, energy efficiency and sustainability.

The council accepted the case put forward in the submission by planning consultants Maybern that Very Special Circumstances were demonstrated by way of high quality of design together with landscape, ecological, energy efficiency and sustainability enhancements. Notably, the scheme delivers a net biodiversity gain of 23.3 per cent, exceeding the 10 per cent net gain that is proposed by the yet to be enacted Environment Bill.

Maybern director Katie Delaney, said: “We are extremely pleased to see this planning permission granted having worked closely with Paul Testa Architecture, as well as the wider team of trusted technical consultants.

"We engaged in early pre-application discussions with officers over a year ago, which together with two rounds of consultation with Places Matter during the summer has led to a scheme that delivers a high quality of design, exemplar energy efficiency and additional benefits to biodiversity and landscape. "With this decision, Bury Council has supported the applicant’s aspiration to deliver something truly special and unique for the borough, as well as their need for a long term family home.”

Paul Testa said: "The clients bought the land, which is on a steep slope, over 10 years ago and approached us to start exploring a design for a light and spacious home that would accommodate their growing family.

"The initial sketch design was an 'upside-down' house that placed the bedrooms in a heavy plinth set around a sheltered garden space.

"The first floor was then a set of lightweight sheds that reflected the sheds of local smallholdings and that took advantage of the diverse views across the landscape.

"Following discussions with the client, we switched the living accommodation to the ground floor, embedded in the slope of the hill with more rationalised sheds for bedrooms above.

"We found the design review process a really positive one. It challenged us to push our own concepts further. We made the base of the building heavier to become a rock face in the field.

“This project shows the success of a collaborative design approach”, says Paul.

“Working with the clients, planning consultant and landscape architect from the outset has led to a beautiful design. It feels like it belongs in the landscape."