Plans to build three detached houses on car park of vacant Helmshore restaurant approved

Planning permission was sought from Rossendale Borough Council for the construction of three new detached houses on land at the rear of the now vacant and former Anacapri restaurant off Helmshore Road in Rossendale.

The proposed new-build homes would be two storeys in height, with additional accommodation in the roof space (served by rear-facing pitched roofed dormers).

Planning permission already exists (approved in 2020) for the construction of three dwellings on the site, and as such the acceptability in principle of residential development on the site has already been established under that permission, although the dwellings would essentially be a redesign of those originally permitted - similar in scale, but with some differences in design.

The site comprises the car park of the now vacant former Anacapri restaurant which is located to the south of Helmshore Road.

The former restaurant itself is a two-storey building of stone and slate construction, with associated land to the side and rear and the car park area is of a significant size located to the rear at higher level than the building.

The site is within the urban boundary and is on the edge of the residential area of Helmshore.

Surrounding land uses are predominantly open fields to the north east and south east, with residential properties to the north and west.

A planning statement submitted to the council read: "The dwellings would feature UPVC window and door units, and would have natural sandstone flagged paths and patios around their perimeter.

"Each dwelling would have an integral single garage and a double-width driveway to the front formed from porous block paving.

"Each dwelling would have a private grassed rear garden area.

"Around the wider site, garden plots would be separated internally by 2m high timber panel fencing.

"However, the boundary treatment around the site perimeter and adjacent to the roads would be retained stone walling."

Following consideration of the application, it was resolved to grant planning permission on January 19 for the following reasons: the proposed development is acceptable in principle and, subject to conditions, will not unacceptably affect visual or neighbour amenity or highway safety.

As such, the proposal accords with the National Planning Policy Framework and the Council's adopted Local Plan.

When planning permission was first sought for the homes in 2020, which included converting the vacant restaurant, the application was met with around 174 objections, however no objections or comments were received by the council this time.