PLANS for a housing development close to the M66 have been rejected as the homes were deemed ‘intrusive’ and ‘unsuitable’.

Bury Council considered the plans from LGC Properties Ltd to build two semi-detached and three town houses on land between Rochdale Old Road and Woodgate Hill Road.

The council received 10 objections from the plans from neighbours.

Issues included ‘additional traffic’. the ‘impact on the junction of Woodgate Hill Road and Rochdale Old Road in terms of highway and pedestrian safety’, and that the junction regularly flooded.

Other objections included that given the site’s proximity to the busy B6222 and M66, this loss of trees will have had a negative impact on levels of both noise and air pollution.

The proposal also sought a new access road from Woodgate Hill Road.

An officer report into the plans said they had concerns about the design and layout of the homes.

It said: “It is considered that the street scene submitted does not extend far enough along Rochdale Old Road and fails to show the relationship of the proposal to the dwellings along Rochdale Old Road.

On the plans submitted, the proposed dwellings also appear to be very top heavy, an officer added.

“The dwellings are approximately 9488 mm high with approximately 4150mm of this height equating to roof," it was said.

“This would lead to approximately 44 per cent of the overall height of the dwellings being roof.

“The proposed dwellings therefore would not replicate the more traditional proportions of the surrounding properties.

” The proposed development would, by reason of its size, position and design, be a prominent and intrusive feature.”

A decision notice turning down the plans has been sent to the applicant.

The report concluded: ” The scheme has been submitted following pre-application advice however it appears that the proposals have been submitted in entire isolation of the advice and guidance given and without any proper consideration of how an effective and appropriate layout and density could be achieved on this site.

“While there is no objection in principle to the use of the site for residential purposes, it is considered that the issues above need to be addressed with a suitable scheme that can bring this site forward for beneficial use to the immediate site and surroundings.”