The Rochdale Council Planning Committee met to discuss planning application 22/01489/FUL, concerning the erection of a sheep shelter to the rear of the Halfway House Hotel, and to note appeals lodged and determined. The committee resolved to grant planning permission for the sheep shelter, subject to conditions. They also noted the appeals lodged as of 27 August 2025, and the appeals determined as of the same date.

Application 22/01489/FUL - Land to Rear of Halfway House Hotel, Wardle

The committee resolved to grant planning permission for the erection of a new building to form a sheep shelter on land to the rear of the Halfway House Hotel in Wardle. The application had been deferred at a previous meeting on 6 November 2024, with the applicant invited to consider relocating the proposed building within the site.

The applicant, Mr Sajid Hussain, amended the scheme, relocating the proposed building to the rear of the Halfway House Hotel and to the north-west corner of the site. The applicant also confirmed that an unauthorised structure would be demolished. The design was slightly amended, with less Western Cedar cladding and more red brick.

The planning officer's report stated that the repositioning of the building and removal of the unauthorised structure would not alter the conclusion in the previous report, and that the proposed development was considered acceptable in principle.

The report noted that the amended proposal would be less prominent when viewed from the highway, and its visibility would be considerably reduced when viewed from the bowling green, tennis courts and residential properties on James Street. It would be more prominent when viewed from the lane used to access the football pitches, but would be viewed behind the boundary treatment and in the context of the two-storey dwelling.

The committee approved the application subject to the following conditions:

• The development must begin no later than three years from the date of permission.
• The development must be carried out in accordance with the approved drawings and documents.
• Samples and specifications of external materials must be submitted for approval.
• A site investigation and risk assessment must be completed to assess contamination.
• Details of boundary treatments must be submitted and approved.
• A scheme of biodiversity enhancements for the site must be submitted and approved.
• A scheme for external lighting must be submitted and approved.
• The premises shall only be used for agricultural purposes.
• The unauthorised structure must be removed before construction of the approved development begins.

Appeals

The committee noted the appeals lodged as of 27 August 2025, which included an appeal against the erection of an internally illuminated digital display at 276 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale.

The committee also noted the appeals determined as of 27 August 2025, which included:

• Dismissal of an appeal against the refusal of an illuminated digital advertisement display unit at 744 Halifax Road, Rochdale.
• Dismissal of appeals against the refusal of a communications hub including defibrillator and advertisement display, and an internally illuminated advertisement display within the hub, at the pavement behind the tram stop on Smith Street, Rochdale.
• Allowance of an appeal against the refusal of a D-Poster Advertisement at Arien Refrigeration Services, John Street, Rochdale.