A church is to be demolished and four-bedroom homes built on the site after a near four-year planning saga ended.
The Independent Methodist Church, in Dicconson Lane, near the Westhoughton and Aspull border, has fallen into disrepair after being unused since 2015.
The church was used by worshippers from Westhoughton and Aspull for many years prior to its closure.
READ MORE: 'There is a real fear': Crackdown on crime wave in Greater Manchester's 'carjacking capital'
A church building has stood at the site since 1893.
A planning application to demolish the derelict building and build two houses with a minimum of four-bedrooms each was submitted to Bolton Council last year.
Previous similar plans to build three homes at the site were turned down by Bolton Council in 2018 after concerns about the effect the development would have on the green belt.
A subsequent appeal was lodged by applicant Craig Davies but the original decision was upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.
An appeal decision notice stated that the development would have a “harmful effect to the character and appearance of the appeal site or surrounding area”.
Another application for two houses at the site was refused by Bolton Council last July.
Their reasons for refusal cited “the siting, design, scale and massing, would not contribute to good urban design”.
The latest application, by Ian Horrocks was for ‘demolition of existing buildings and erection of two dwellings with associated car parking’ at the site.
The approved plans include parking for six vehicles.
Changes from the previously refused plans for the 2.5 storey detached houses included a reduction in height by 1.5 metres making them less prominent when viewed from Dicconson Lane.
There were three letters of objection to the plans but Westhoughton Town Council supported the application.
An officer’s report on the proposals, said: “Unlike the previous schemes refused by this authority, it is considered that the amended houses
proposed under the current application would serve to maintain the overall character and appearance of the application site and surrounding area.
“The volume reduction of 15 per cent is considered to be acceptable.”
Planning permission for the demolition of the church and the new houses was granted on February 7.
