Apartment block plan could bring 'high quality living space' to heart of picturesque town

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Plans for a new apartment block that would bring dozens of ‘high quality’ homes to a picturesque Pennines town have been revealed. The proposals, lodged by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, would see a four-storey building replace an old mill and industrial units at Brown Street, Littleborough.

Based within 'easy walking distance' of the town centre, the new block would boast 40 one and two-bedroom homes for ‘affordable’ rent. Residents would be served by 40 parking spaces - including two disabled bays - while access for vehicles and pedestrians would be from Brown Street.

Planning papers say the aim of the development is to provide ‘high quality living space within the Littleborough community in an accessible location’. The document adds: “The land and properties served by Brown Street and the surrounding highways are primarily residential and are relatively narrow. READ MORE : Farm shop boasting café and community room could open near popular beauty spot

“The site is more suited to housing than employment uses. There is a large area of employment uses immediately to the west of the site and others are available within Littleborough town centre." It goes on to say that the site is ‘ideally located’ for public transport and its proximity to the town centre would mean future occupants would be less reliant on travelling by car.

The document also claims the development would not have an ‘adverse’ visual impact or result in a lack of privacy for neighbouring residents.“The removal of the commercial/warehouse/storage traffic will reduce highways conflict and improve overall safety,” it adds.

The ‘contemporary design’ of the proposed building is said to be inspired by the original 19th century mill building, which is now