A third attempt to demolish a historic set of stables and build a house has been put forward.

Two previous bids to build over the Hilltop Stables on George's Lane, Horwich, have already been thrown out by Bolton Council in recent years.

But now another bid has gone forward to build a new bungalow with a reinstated dry stone wall and a space for tree planting over what has been designated as green belt land.

Bolton Council cabinet member for the environment Cllr Richard Silvester said: “This planning application is very similar to the previous planning application.

“The present planning application is still in the green belt and it would still cause harm to the green belt and there are no very special circumstances to outweigh the harm caused to the green belt because of this proposal.

The Bolton News: Significant changes have been made to the plansSignificant changes have been made to the plans (Image: MacMarshalls Rural Chartered Surveyors & Planning)

“The proposal would still lead to a clear contrast in the character and appearance of the area on that side of George’s Lane to its detriment.

“Inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the green belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances.

“No very special circumstances have been put forward in this case which outweigh the potential harm to the green belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, including the identified harm to the openness of the green belt.”

The most recent version of the plans were put before Bolton Council at the start of March this year.

The developers say that the new proposal has taken previous concerns on board and that the new plans have made “significant changes.”

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A statement from MacMarshalls Rural Chartered Surveyors & Planning Consultants said that the local planning authority had expressed these concerns previously.  

The statement said: “During the last application process, the LPA engaged with the applicant and agent to express concerns with the scheme.

“The current proposal presents a complete change in design based on previous planning officer comments, a reduction in red edge around the proposed dwelling and creates enhancements to the conservation area.”

Bolton Council will decide whether or not to approve the plans by Wednesday May 1 this year.