The Planning Control Committee was scheduled to consider a range of planning applications, including proposals for residential conversions and new dwellings. The committee was also scheduled to review delegated decisions, planning appeals, and updates on the National Scheme of Delegation. A significant item on the agenda was the proposed establishment of a Joint Planning Committee with Rochdale Council to oversee development at the Northern Gateway sites.

Planning Applications

The committee was scheduled to consider two specific planning applications:

Rose and Crown Inn, 36 Manchester Old Road, Bury, BL9 0TR

This application was scheduled to consider a change of use from a public house (Sui Generis) to three self-contained apartments. The proposal included one apartment on the ground floor and two on the first floor, accommodating a maximum of five people. The report pack indicated a recommendation to approve the application with conditions. Concerns raised by neighbours included the impact on local services, parking, and potential anti-social behaviour. However, the Traffic Section noted that the existing use as a pub with living accommodation meant parking grounds for objection were limited. Waste Management provided specific requirements for bin storage. The proposal was assessed against policies relating to residential development, loss of community assets, housing density, visual amenity, residential amenity, highways, parking, waste management, carbon and energy, and digital connectivity. The applicant's statement regarding the availability of other public houses in the vicinity was intended to address the loss of a community asset. The report recommended approval with conditions, including those related to the use of materials, bin storage, cycle storage, and the use of the apartments as Class C3 dwellings. The ground floor apartment was also to be built to an 'accessible and adaptable' standard.

Sedgewell, Brandlesholme Road, Tottington, Bury, BL8 4DZ

This application was scheduled to consider the construction of a single-storey dwelling in the garden of the host property, with an associated site access. The site is located within the Green Belt, and there is a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) along the boundary. Public Right of Way Footpath 39TOT also runs along the eastern boundary. The report pack indicated a recommendation to approve the application with conditions. Objections from neighbours raised concerns about the Green Belt location, potential precedent, and the need to protect historic features and trees. The applicant's case for very special circumstances was based on the existence of a Lawful Development Certificate for an outbuilding of a similar scale, which was considered a material planning consideration. The proposal was assessed against policies relating to the Green Belt, housing development, layout and design, amenity, access, highways, public rights of way, ecology, trees, permitted development rights, carbon and energy, and digital connectivity. The report recommended approval with conditions, including those related to the commencement of development, approved drawings, external materials, bin storage, cycle storage, dwelling use, and accessibility standards. Conditions were also proposed regarding land contamination, electric vehicle charging points, nesting birds, biodiversity enhancement, tree protection, construction traffic management, and surface water drainage.

Delegated Decisions

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from the Head of Development Management detailing all delegated planning decisions made since the last meeting. The recommendation was for the committee to note the report and appendices. This report listed numerous planning applications that had been decided by officers under delegated powers, covering a wide range of wards and application types, including applications for discharge of conditions, full planning permissions, advertisements, and lawful development certificates.

Planning Appeals

A report was scheduled to be presented detailing planning appeals lodged against decisions of the authority and against Enforcement Notices served, as well as those determined by the Planning Inspectorate. The committee was recommended to note the report and appendices. Two planning appeals were listed as lodged between 21 August 2026 and 9 October 2026:

• 18 Malvern Close, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1PH: An appeal lodged on 11 September 2026 concerning a variation of condition 2 on planning permission 72713, relating to extending an approved rear extension. The recommended decision was to refuse.
• Land on the west side of Bury New Road/Peel Brow, Ramsbottom, BL0 0AZ: An appeal lodged on 21 September 2026 for Permission in Principle for the construction of up to nine zero-carbon dwellings. The recommended decision was to refuse.

National Scheme of Delegation

The committee was scheduled to consider a report providing an update on the implementation of the National Scheme of Delegation for the determination of planning applications. The report was to be commended to Full Council. This agenda item highlighted significant national changes to how planning applications are determined, with a move towards delegating more minor and technical decisions to officers. The report detailed that the National Scheme of Delegation comes into force on 31 October 2026 and that some applications previously capable of being referred to committee would, in future, have to be decided by officers. The report outlined key messages for the committee, including that the scheme is a national legal requirement, that some applications would be presumed delegated unless specific gateway tests were met, and that ward member call-in arrangements would not override the national scheme. The council's Constitution and associated procedures were to be reviewed and updated to comply with these regulations.

Supplemental Agenda Item: Joint Planning Committee

An urgent supplemental item was scheduled to be discussed regarding the proposed establishment of a Joint Planning Committee between Bury and Rochdale Councils. This committee would be responsible for determining planning and related applications at the Northern Gateway sites (JPA 1.1 and JPA 1.2), which span both administrative districts. The report outlined draft arrangements and terms of reference for this joint committee. The primary advantage cited was to streamline the decision-making process and ensure consistency, with a single report and decision for cross-boundary applications. The proposal was for the committee to generally deal only with applications of a strategic nature where the development area crossed both administrative boundaries. The report recommended that the Planning Control Committee note the report and recommend that Full Council approve the establishment of this Joint Planning Committee. The terms of reference detailed the membership, functions, and meeting procedures for the Joint Planning Committee, including how the Chair would be appointed and how decisions would be made. The geographical area covered by the Joint Committee was also outlined, with an exclusion for the area at South Heywood where planning permission had already been granted.