Plans for a touring caravan park rejected

An application to build a touring caravan park on land outside a former wedding venue has been rejected by town planners amid fears it would ‘destroy’ greenbelt land.

Developers planned to turn a site next to Clough Manor on Rochdale Road, Denshaw, into five caravan parking spaces and a new access road.

But the application by developer Mrs S Hartwell was turned down by Oldham Council, who deemed the proposal ‘an inappropriate development’. 

A planning officer wrote: “The development constitutes inappropriate development which, by definition, is harmful to the greenbelt. The development would result in a loss of openness and encroachment into the countryside. 

“No very special circumstances have been demonstrated that would clearly outweigh the harm.” 

Pictured above: Clough Manor, Denshaw, Oldham, Caravan Plans.

They added the new caravan park would be located to the rear of two cottages and could cause an ‘unacceptable impact’ on current residents through noise, disturbance, and loss of privacy. 

The application caused consternation among local residents, with nine objecting to the plans. 

One local described the proposal as ‘an incongruous development in a special landscape area’.

“The prominence and impact on the landscape will make this development significantly stand out with visual detriment to the surrounding views of the Denshaw valley,” they wrote. “White caravans against a backdrop of black tarmac will create a visual eyesore.” 

Clough Manor is also waiting for a decision on a second application, which proposes a change of use from ‘hotel’ to six residential apartments in the building’s trade annex. Floorplans show the hotel’s current kitchen converted into three self-contained apartments with bathrooms, double beds and open plan living rooms with kitchenettes, alongside a shared cycle storage. 

The plans would retain the hotel’s current restaurant, reception and lounge areas, but does not show where the new kitchen to service these areas would be located. Three additional apartments are depicted on the first floor. 

The proposal was first submitted to the planning department in May and last amended on Monday, July 29.