A NEW twist has developed in a long-running battle by property giants to build houses in Tottington.

A public inquiry into Fairclough Homes's planning application for land off Scobell Street was adjourned after just one hour when their lawyers submitted new evidence.

Bury Council called for the inquiry to be deferred, and for the developers to resubmit their application.

The plans will now be studied by the council's planning control sub-committee in the light of the new evidence.

The new arguments put forward by Fairclough Homes centre on a disused building on the site which, up until recently, was used by Hallis Hudson, a blind and curtain rail factory.

Bury Council said the building could be marketed to attract industry to the area. But the property giants argued that the building had fallen into disrepair, and it would cost in excess of £1 million to bring it back to a reasonable condition.

Mr Paul Allen, principal planning officer, explained: "Our consultants did not have the time to rebut the new evidence put forward.

"Our barrister advised us to seek an adjournment, and reconsider the planning application on the basis of this new evidence."

The council has twice rejected the application on the grounds that the site was designated for industrial development. Fairclough Homes appealed against the decision which led to the public inquiry.

And last week they put their case before a Government Inspector who, with the agreement of both parties, opened and then adjourned the inquiry.

The application, which seeks to develop 37 houses, will now be studied by Bury Council in November.

If the council's planning sub-committee rejects the application then the public inquiry will resume in January.

"Residents will be notified and consulted. Their views will be studied along with the application when it goes before the committee," said Mr Allen.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.