Green-belt row over hotel plan

Date published: 11 December 2014


AN 18-bedroom, three-storey extension to The Saddleworth Hotel, Delph, was approved by a 6-4 majority.

The additional building will be a detached annex, constructed in natural stone and slate and will be located opposite the hotel’s main entrance, next to the existing car park.

The meeting heard that the “business could not expand or grow in an increasingly competitive market” without the extension. The application also described the “success of the business being largely due to the location and natural beauty of the surrounding landscape” and that it would be “consistent with the vision of the ‘Get Oldham Working’ initiatives.”

However, Councillor Joy Wrigglesworth was not convinced. She said: “I am not sure that people going into these jobs will be from the local area and I don’t believe that this has satisfied the very special circumstances needed to overlook its green belt location.”

Councillor Dave Houle agreed and said: “I think this will contribute to overdevelopment of the site.”

However, planning officer, Martyn Leigh, said the “impact on the scenery is relatively low”.

Councillor Shaid Mushtaq was in favour of the proposal and the possibilities the extension could bring.

He said: “We talk about tourism and trying to bring in and I think this is something that we need to support.

“Part of the appeal of this hotel is the green belt and the scenery around it and this extension is not encroaching onto a lot of the land.”