Second phase proposal for 'historic' Roe Cross site

Plans for the conversion of the former Roe Cross public house into apartments have been submitted to Tameside Council.

We previously reported that plans to build six four/five-bedroom dwellings had been submitted as the first part of a two phased planning proposal for the site.

Now the second phase to convert ‘The Roe Cross’ - historically a public house and restaurant and then in more recent times used as a café / restaurant and garden centre with retail gift shop facility named ‘Roe Cross Green’ - has been submitted.

The restaurant/garden centre business ceased trading in 2017 with the site remaining vacant ever since.

The second phase proposes the conversion of the former public house / restaurant element into nine, two-bedroom apartments with associated works.

A planning statement notes the apartments are generously proportioned, would have their own parking and private patio or garden areas.

Although some external alterations would be required to the original buildings, these would be executed sympathetically, the statement adds.

A bat survey report has been submitted with the plan, the findings of which state no bats of any species were recorded emerging from or re-entering the present buildings proposed for conversion.

However, as a precautionary measure the report recommends that roofing tiles on the northern elevation of the property are stripped under ecological supervision.

A planning statement says that the applicant is proposing to carry out a comprehensive re-development of the whole of the Roe Cross Green site in two phases and this is the second phase of the planning application that has been submitted to the council.

However, the statement notes that the conversion scheme is entirely dependent on the first phase for the six house development being supported by the council.

If the application is not successful, the statement adds, then the applicant will not be able to retain the existing buildings and will have to consider the ‘fall back’ position of having to implement an earlier planning permission that was granted by the council back in May 2018. This was for the demolition of the former public house and the building of six, four-bedroom dwellings on the site.

Although historically significant, the public house was rejected for listing by Historic England as it has undergone significant alterations since the original Roe Cross Inn was built in 1616.

The inn was owned by the prominent Hollingworth family and local tradition records that in 1745 Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) used the site during his march south as part of his campaign to restore Stuart rule to Scotland. He set up camp behind the inn and used the building as his headquarters on his way to Derby.

The inn appears on the Mottram in Longdendale Tithe Map (1845), and was recorded in the tithe apportionment as the Roe Cross Public House occupied by John Clarke and owned by the Earl of Stamford and Warrington.

As previously reported, phase one of the application is for six dwelling houses, with two different house types proposed. 

One house is a detached two-storey five bedroomed dwelling house and there are five three-storey, four bedroomed dwelling houses in a semi-detached and triple terraced format on the site. 

If permission is granted, each house will have its own integral garage and driveway for two cars.

Tameside Council planners are considering the proposals.

Main image:

The proposed look of the area following the conversion.