On 6th December Bolton Council’s Planning Committee agreed plans to convert the Smithills Coaching House (a grade II listed building) into 8 apartments and build 21 houses adjacent to it – in Green Belt near Smithills Hall (a grade I listed building) an ancient woodland and a Site of Biological Interest (SBI).

In doing so it ignored the advice of its own Heritage Consultant and the objections of English Heritage, The Bolton & District Civic Trust, The Victorian Society, The Friends of Smithills Hall, The Halliwell Local History Society, The Lancashire Gardens Trust, The Woodland Trust, The Darwen and North Bolton Bridleways Association and many local residents. The consensus of the objectors was that the application would cause damage to the setting of Smithills Hall (one of Bolton’s two Grade I listed buildings), the Grade II Park and Garden, the ancient woodland and the SBI.

Because the approval breaks Bolton’s own planning policies, it has to go to the Secretary of State (in reality his civil servants) before it is finally approved. We hope that the amount of opposition will lead to the application being refused.

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