Project Proposals
Gay O’Gara Properties Ltd were previously developing plans to refurbish Rock Nook Mill and convert the building into apartments with associated parking, with additional residential development to financially support the costly refurbishment and conversion of the Mill on surrounding land. However, in August 2023 following the collapse of part of the mill, it was deemed unsafe and unfortunately had to be demolished. Therefore, the scheme has since been revisited.
We are now preparing to submit a planning application which will seek permission for residential development at the site. The site is made up of five separate parcels of land, this includes:
Site Plan Area Location
Area 1 – Former Rock Nook Mill
This area is the site of the former Rock Nook Mill. This site will be home to a five storey proposed apartment block which will reflect and respect the scale, massing and siting of the former landmark mill on the site. The proposal will create 38No spacious 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments and include a community room, a resident’s room, roof garden, resident’s courtyard and under croft parking with 37 no parking spaces.
All apartments will have views of the canal and wider valley to the east and to the west. A rear courtyard is proposed to provide private space for residents to rest and relax, as well as access to the roof garden and internal shared spaces. The Mill was a non-designated heritage asset, a key landmark and key feature of the Rock Nook Conservation Area. The apartment building seeks to provide a new landmark building in this space which reflects the scale and massing of the former Mill. To avoid providing a poor pastiche copy of the mill it is proposed that modern materials are used including brickwork, galvanized steel deck frames and columns.
Area 2 – Disused Quarry
North Area 2 is an elevated disused car park and quarry to the northeast of the former Rock Nook Mill site. This will be the location of four escarpment houses. These dwellings will be an irregular and angular form to blend into the contours of the landscape and reflect the industrial past of the quarry.
The properties will be built in natural materials such as stone and wood to reflect the wider landscape. It is proposed that these houses will be two storeys with terraces and balconies facing west to take advantage of the spectacular views across the valley towards Rochdale. Properties will also feature garages and parking as well as wrap around gardens. Landscaping will be provided around the dwellings to ensure that they assimilate into the surrounding valley. This site forms part of the enabling works to support the erection of a high quality apartment block on the former Mill site.
Area 3 - Lock 44 Canalside
This site is vacant land, close to Lock 44 of the Canal on the eastern side. The scheme proposes four detached dwellings, 33 terraced properties and public open space for community use. The site is split into two parcels by an access road. The northern part of the site includes the four detached dwellings, the open space and a row of 11 terraced dwellings. The southern site contains the remaining 22 terraced dwellings, with three rows in a U Shape forming a courtyard setting.
The four detached dwellings will front the canal to the north of the site. These properties will include a garage, parking, and gardens to the front and rear. The design of these properties takes reference from the industrial nature of the area and have an industrial aesthetic, whilst embracing a contemporary aesthetic to reflect modern day living and needs. These are large family dwellings with generous gardens. The properties will feature recessed balconies facing the canal to make the most of the canal side views and setting in the landscape. There is open space for residents and community use located to the rear of these properties which can be accessed between the dwellings.
There will also be 33 terraced properties separated into four rows. The terraced properties will be a garden cottage style to reflect existing and former cottages in the area often built for workers of the mills. These existing cottages have a simple vernacular and are often set around a communal outdoor space. The proposed cottages will feature front and rear gardens and parking. The terraces in the southern part of the site are sited in a U formation with a courtyard setting to encourage community. The proposed cottages will have a more modern appearance to avoid poor pastiche copies of existing stone cottages in the locality.
This site forms part of the enabling works to support the erection of a high quality apartment block on the former Mill site.
Area 4 - East Gale
This site is vacant land, located to the west of the Canal, close to Lock 44. This part of the scheme proposes 15 no. detached dwellings on this development parcel, plus a large area of landscaping.
These dwellings are laid out in a linear form to follow the elongated nature of the site. These dwellings are spaced generously to allow for views between the dwellings and across the site. The proposed dwellings have been designed to take inspiration from both the historic canal and industrial heritage of the area and are proposed to be of a modern design with materials such as dark charred wood and concrete. They have been designed to blend into the landscape with their elongated form and materials. The properties are two and a half storeys, set into the sloping nature of the site featuring a garage, parking and wrap around gardens.
The area to the east comprises a large, elongated strip of land for landscaping and mitigation for biodiversity net gain, to encourage wildlife and greenery as well as providing an aesthetic buffer from the flood defence works.
The site also retains access to the flood mitigation scheme currently under construction by the Environment Agency to the west of the railway line, which will provide flood defences for the area.
Area 5 – Proposed Bowling Green
This site is an area of vacant land which is proposed to provide open space for community use for future residents, existing residents in the area and those visiting the area. The site is flat with some trees lining the borders of the site.
Other - Land Given Over to flood alleviation Scheme
This land does not form part of the planning application but is under the ownership of the applicant. The applicant has given this land over to the Environment Agency to ensure that essential works can be carried out to protect the area from flooding as part of the ‘Rochdale and Littleborough Flood Risk Management Scheme’. The applicant is supportive of the proposals, understanding the great community benefits and therefore has worked with the Environment Agency to allow works to be undertaken on their land.
It is estimated that this scheme will better protect approximately 723 homes and 489 businesses from flooding. Planning permission has been granted for Phase 1 works of this scheme and construction began on site in February 2024 and continue to progress. The flood alleviation works at this site once constructed will seek to defend the Littleborough area from flooding including the proposal sites.
Please see a link to the application page for the phase 1 flood alleviation scheme for more details: https://thefloodhub.co.uk/rochdale-and-littleborough/littleborough-phase-1/
Please see a link to the application page for the phase 2 flood alleviation scheme for more details: https://thefloodhub.co.uk/rochdale-and-littleborough/rochdale-phase-2/
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