Revised plans submitted for three homes in Cloughfold

The application relates to a parcel of grassland south of Victoria Street, close to existing homes and employment premises.

Rossendale Council previously refused plans for four dwellings on the site in October 2023, citing concerns over the appearance of the development, the living conditions it would provide for future residents, and unresolved questions surrounding land stability.

The new proposal reduces the number of homes from four to three and includes changes to the design, landscaping and layout.

A planning statement said: “The current proposal addresses the Council's concerns by including a one metre high natural stone wall along the front northern boundary.

“The western and side boundaries would have a 1.8 metre feather-edged timber fence with a hedgerow also along the eastern boundary.

"The surface materials of the area in front of the dwellings could be conditioned for future approval.”

According to planning documents, the three detached properties would each have integral garages, parking spaces and private rear gardens.

The homes would be built in stone with slate roofs, replacing the render and clay tile finish proposed in the earlier application.

Developers argue the revised materials are more in keeping with neighbouring properties on Victoria Street and the surrounding area.

A landscaped area and hedgerow are also proposed on the eastern side of the site to provide greater separation from homes on Hope Street.

Planning agents said the removal of one dwelling has helped tackle previous concerns about overlooking and privacy.

The earlier scheme was criticised because residents of a fourth plot would have had their gardens overlooked by neighbouring properties on higher ground.

In the supporting statement, applicants said: "The proposed layout now shows three detached dwellings with plot four removed from the scheme.

"The distance from neighbouring properties to plot three is significant, and there is now a large area of intervening landscaped area between the dwellings."

The wall will remain in place, but the plans include stepped rear gardens intended to reduce its visible height from four metres to around three metres, with much of the structure screened by timber fencing.

Developers said this would lessen its visual impact and reduce concerns that it would appear overbearing for future residents.

The application is accompanied by a ground stability report, which concludes there is no evidence of significant instability, landslip risk or mining-related issues affecting the site.

Planning documents state investigations found the retaining wall does not undermine the stability of the slope above and that the land is considered suitable for residential development.

The site lies within Rossendale's urban boundary and previously received outline planning permission for up to four homes in 2021.

Developers argue this established the principle of residential development on the land and that the latest proposals comply with local planning policies.