By George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporting Service
AN OLD mattress warehouse in Ashton-under-Lyne will be transformed into a new apartment block after planning permission was granted – again.
The plan to convert the former J T Griffiths and Co Ltd building on Stockport Road into 43 flats was approved in 2023.
But the scheme was brought back before Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee after developers made changes to the proposal.
Manson Holdings Ltd said the new plan would provide 15 per cent social housing benefits (usually around about 50 per cent of market rates), rather than the 100 per cent originally described.
The developer told the panel they still hope to make all the flats available for social housing but need a fallback plan in case an agreement cannot be reached with a registered housing provider or funding from Homes England is not confirmed.
Cllr Doreen Dickinson voiced her annoyance the plan was brought back before the panel, saying: “Developers should really think before they come in and say 100 per cent affordable housing.
“This was passed in 2023, and I know costs have gone up. But planning officers should have conversations with developers to make sure they absolutely can do it.”
Despite reservations, the updated plan was approved by the panel on June 25.
The building had previously been a mattress ticking warehouse and was in use from 1963 until 2013 before the business moved to larger premises in Stockport.
After more than 10 years of sitting empty, the aim of the project is to provide homes for vulnerable young adults, where ‘arms length support’ would be provided.