Call to build flats at former pub rejected

‘INCONGRUOUS’ plans to convert a disused Stalybridge pub into flats have been rejected.

Karen and Dougan Sidebottom of Ridge Hill Lane-based Strawberry Construction applied to Tameside Council to develop the Travellers Call on Wakefield Road.

Under the scheme, a third level would have been added and the building turned into two bedroomed properties.

Three would have been on the current ground level with a further five as duplexes on the first and new second floor.

But those hopes have been shot down by the council, with director of growth Jayne Traverse listing a number of reasons, the main one being it would not have fitted in with its surroundings.

In a decision notice, it stated: “The overall scale, mass and level of fenestration would be at complete odds with the character and form of buildings within the vicinity.

“Given the prominence of the building, the associated extension and alterations would form an incongruous addition to the building which would be significantly detrimental to the character of the locality.

“This represents an overdevelopment of the site.

“The extension to the building by virtue of its overall design, height, mass and access arrangements would result in a loss of outlook and privacy to the occupants of numbers 28 and 30 Wakefield Road, whose rear gardens would be significantly overshadowed and overlooked by the proposals to the detriment of their residential amenity.“Parking arrangements and vehicle movements associated with the residents of the development would have a significant and disruptive impact upon the amenity of neighbouring residents of Wakefield Road, which share the same access.

“The lack of off-street parking would give rise to further demands on the local highway network, given the substandard nature of George Street this is likely to result in vehicle conflicts and further disruption to the significant detriment of the amenity of existing residents and overall highway safety.”

Even the lack of research into any animals a development may impact was criticised.

In the decision notice, it added: “The application has not been supported with a bat survey.

“Given the age and construction of the building along within its location to potential habitat, the applicant has provided insufficient information to demonstrate that any harm to protected species as a result of the development can be adequately mitigated.”

The Travellers Call has remained unused since it ceased trading as a pub in 2019 but remains in a prominent location for traffic entering Stalybridge from Ashton.

A blue plaque sits on the wall commemorating John Buckley, who was born at nearby Cocker Hill in May 1813 and received the Victoria Cross for bravery while working as Assistant Commissionary of Ordnance at the Delhi Magazine, India, in May 1857.

Four letters of objection had been lodged to Tameside Council but the applicants can appeal the decision to the Secretary of State within six months.