The applicant, Franca Laverdino, applied for planning permission around two months ago for her homes” target=”_blank”>house at Hodgkinsons Farm.
The application for a 22.5-square-metre greenhouse in the garden of the house, one of five houses on the former farm between Boot Lane and Old Kiln Lane, led to a lot of debate among councillors at the town hall this month.
A planning officer recommended refusal but Susan Priest, a councillor for Smithills Ward, recommended approval on the behalf of the applicant.
The planning officer said: “The local planning policies and national planning policies on development in the Green Belt are clear any buildings are inappropriate development in the Green Belt unless there is one of the exceptions.
“We assessed if the proposal does engage the exceptions and the proposal does not engage the exceptions hence the recommendation of refusal.”
ALSO READ:ย Bolton’s ‘biggest’ beer garden is allowed an outdoor bar.
Cllr Priest said: “It is ludicrous we are approving applications for housing developments on our Green Belt due to housing targets and by the same planning policy we are refusing applications for greenhouses on our Green Belt.
“I asked the council leader for advice and it was on his suggestion I asked for this to be brought before the committee for some common sense.”
The councillors were divided down the middle on whether to approve the application or to refuse the application.
The planning committee deferred a decision until a later date for further information from the planning department.
Roger Hayes, a councillor for Smithills Ward, said: “This lady is passionate about it, it is a part of her leisure time, and anybody who has done what she has done in the garden is in need of a greenhouse.”
David Grant, a councillor for Horwich South and Blackrod Ward, said: “If all we need is a passion for something then bring on the building on the Green Belt because they have a passion for something.”
The next meeting of the planning committee is in the New Year.
This article is by Jack Tooth. He is available at jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk.