Mystery and deceit claim over buildings

A large executive house on Green Belt land in Greenfield could be approved by the back door unless Oldham’s planning department takes action, claim objectors.

Ward Councillor Richard Knowles said the original planning application for the former Royal George Mills at Friezland, was to convert an old warehouse into offices.

Now a two storey building has appeared on the site and new plans, which refer to it as 10, Gibbs Close, ask for a change from offices to a house.

Councillor Knowles has written to Geoff Willerton, Oldham’s head of planning, to object, along with the Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association.

Mike Rooke the GGRA secretary said: “There is mystery and deceit going on here.”

He said the warehouse has been demolished and its replacement is 100 per cent “new build on a bigger scale”.

The change has led a resident to complain to the Local Government Ombudsman, and approving the plans before the Ombudsman has ruled on the case should not be allowed, he added.

Councillor Knowles, who first objected to the new building last year, said: “It looks like a large luxury house rather than an office building.”

Sales staff are allegedly referring to it as a house, he added.

He told Mr Willerton: “This is a Green Belt site and I can see no justification for granting planning permission for a huge house or any housing by this back door route.

“It has become commonplace for developers to ask for a change of plan part way through a development that would not have been allowed in the original application.

“In my view, Oldham Council planning department’s reputation will be irreparably damaged if what is effectively retrospective permission is granted for this huge, luxury house in the Green Belt in Friezland.”

Papers lodged with the council say the building has been made weather-proof so potential office users can be shown inside, but none has taken it because of its location.

Saddleworth Parish Council’s planning committee will consider the application tonight.