The potential regeneration of Heaton Park’s ‘jewel’ is the plan that will capture the imagination of many this week.

The orangery built in the 1800’s has gone into such a poor state that it is on the Heritage at Risk Register – sparking action from Manchester Council. They hope to pump money into an overhaul project that seeks to put it back to its best.

Elsewhere in the Greater Manchester region, a variety of significant planning applications have been submitted to different councils.

Conversions of a vicarage in Bolton and baptist church in Dukinfield into housing, a new Jewish burial ground in Whitefield and a £350m data centre in Stockport have all caught the eye.

Keeping with the church theme, plans for the transformation of the Sale United Reformed Church in Trafford into housing has also been tabled. 

Here is a breakdown of each borough’s submitted planning applications this week

Bolton

Vicarage could be converted into apartments

The vicarage to St Chad’s Church in Bolton could be transformed into a new apartment building.

If approved, the Tonge Fold Road site would see a part two storey and part three storey building erected containing 18 one-bedroom apartments. Applicant Mr Tom Blair has also proposed an increase in parking to six vehicles with 12 cycle spaces.

The vicarage became redundant many years ago and was subsequently placed for sale on the open market, according to planning papers.

Bury

New burial ground for the Jewish community

A new burial ground could be coming to green belt land in Whitefield.

If plans are approved, the Old Hall Lane site would provide allocated burial spots with 11 parking spaces just down the road from Machzikei Hadass Cemetery and Philips Park Jewish Cemetery. Applicants Greenfield MP Ltd suggest this would help meet demand for additional burial plots in the area.

Planning papers note that burial grounds are considered acceptable developments on green belt land.

Manchester 

Heaton Park ‘jewel’ could be brought back to life

A lost north Manchester ‘jewel’ is set to reopen to the public after being hidden away for 12 years. 

Built between 1824 and 1832, Heaton Park’s Orangery last opened to the public in 2012, and is now in such poor condition it is on the Heritage at Risk Register. But new plans show the council wants to bring it back to life, by refurbishing it into a function room and dining space.

The Grade-I listed Orangery needs new flooring, a full redecoration, new doors, upgraded toilets, and a full overhaul of the electrical and heating systems, Manchester City Council says. The project is part of the £2.1m joint investment between the authority and Historic England.

Oldham

There were only minor planning proposals submitted to the council this week. 

Rochdale

No new significant planning applications have been submitted to Rochdale Council this week. 

The ones submitted mainly related to minor changes to already approved applications.

Salford

No new significant planning applications have been submitted to Salford Council this week. 

The ones submitted mainly related to minor changes to already approved applications.

Stockport

A slice of the future in a corner of Stockport

Plans to build a £350m data centre in Stockport have moved forward after being recommended for approval by councillors. 

Members of the Heatons and Reddish Area Committee voted in favour of recommending its approval – meaning the application will be decided by the council’s Planning and Highways Regulation Committee. If approved, it would see a 25,900sqm data centre built in Reddish.

The site on Kenwood Road was chosen after a two-year research process. 

Plan for new business hub in Stockport could create hundreds of jobs

Plans for a new business hub in Stockport could create hundreds of new jobs in the borough. 

The site of the former Armadillo Self-Storage, at Stanley Green Business Park in Cheadle, could be turned into ten commercial units as well as a coffee shop and restaurant with drive-thru facilities. The proposed development from Orbit Investments is set to come forward alongside a new self-storage facility which got planning permission in November 2023. 

Tameside

Old Baptist church could be converted into housing and commercial unit

An old Baptist church in Dukinfield could be transformed into houses and a commercial unit, if permission is granted.

The Dukinfield Baptist Church is currently unused following a decision to close in 2022 due to an ageing and dwindling congregation. Plans submitted by Mohameed Suleman Niaz include three new homes, a commercial unit, detached garage block and two advertising boards.

Trafford

Middle East entrepreneur wants to create Irish bar in Sale home town

A Middle East-based entrepreneur wants to convert a Greggs bakery outlet in his home town of Sale into an Irish pub and eatery.

Ross Matthews-Smith, owner of Fibber Magee’s Ltd, has applied for planning permission to change the use of the terraced property on Northenden Road. The proposal on Trafford’s planning portal says Fibber Magee’s is a ‘long-established’ food and beverage business in Dubai, owned by Mr Matthews-Smith, a British expatriate.

Church set to be replaced by five new homes

Plans to partially demolish a church and replace it with five new homes in Sale have been submitted to Trafford council.

If approved, part of Sale United Reformed Church will make way for two new detached houses. Part of the old Sunday school hall will also be demolished to allow its conversion into three more homes. An old house on the site on Montague Road, believed to have been used by the minister in the past, will be refurbished. 

Wigan

Primary school applies for continuation of temporary classroom building

A primary school in the Lowton area of Wigan has applied to planners for permission to continue to use a portable building as an additional classroom for the next five years.

The application by Lowton St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, on Newton Road, has appeared on the council’s planning portal. It says the cabin is to be used as a temporary nursery pending a ‘permanent solution’.