Historic hall's access road facing rejection

Decision due over 'green belt' proposal

- Phil Corrigan [e-mail]

PLANS for a new access road and car park at a historic house look set to be blocked today.

The owners of the Grade II*-listed Biddulph Old Hall say the proposed work will support visitor access to the 17th century building, generating income to fund the maintenance of an important heritage asset.

Existing access to Biddulph Old Hall is via a track off Overton Road, shared with a neighbouring farm, which the owners say is 'not fit for purpose'. The site receives about 2,000 visitors a year. The proposal would see a new access road across 600 metres of farmland between Biddulph Old Hall and the A527 Congleton Road to the west. A field would would be turned into parking for up to 120 vehicles.

But district planning officers say the applicant has failed to demonstrate the benefits would outweigh harm to the setting of heritage assets and the Green Belt. They have recommended the application for refusal.