Mixed-use cultural venue at Haigh Hall, School Lane, Haigh, Wigan

“A/25/099945/MAJOR Change of use of Haigh Hall to mixed-use cultural venue comprising art galleries, education suite, event spaces, restaurant/café, retail, office and bedroom accommodation, together with a rooftop extension to form a bar and circulation space and infill of the ground floor inner courtyard to create a kitchen, and associated external works across the grounds and the wide Haigh Woodland Park, including hard and soft landscaping, provision for an external…”

“Taking the proposals as a whole and applying the section 16(2) duty first, Officers conclude that the scheme would preserve the listed building for the purposes of the Act when considered in the round, but that aspects of the works would nevertheless result in harm within the upper range of “less than substantial” to the significance of Haigh Hall as a Grade II* listed building, with lower levels of less than substantial harm to aspects of setting.”

“Applying the section 16(2) statutory duty as a primary consideration, and then the relevant provisions of the NPPF and local policy as material considerations, the proposals represent a proportionate, conservation‑led intervention that enables a viable future for a designated heritage asset of the highest significance within the Borough.”

“In accordance with the NPPF, to deliver acceptable proposals, the identified less than substantial harm must be weighed against the public benefits of the scheme, including securing the asset’s optimum viable use.”

“Representations had been received in objection to the application in relation to noise impact; deficiencies in the noise assessment; conflicts with national policies relating to noise and Conservation Areas; visually incongruous; material intensification of use; inadequate mitigation; and cumulative impact - increase traffic and noise in quiet, residential and conservation setting.”

“Representations had been received in support of the application in relation to the plans with a suggestion regarding making car parking bays larger.”

“The Committee approve the planning application and grant planning permission, subject to:”

“(1) the conditions specified below; (2) the satisfactory completion of a Section 106 Obligation containing the following provisions:- o £8174.00 for monitoring the on-site Biodiversity Net Gain provision; and o £4197.63 for monitoring and reviewing the workplace travel plan; (3) authority be delegated to the Assistant Director – Legal, Governance and Elections to enter into the said Section 106 Obligation; and (4) authority be delegated to the Director – Place to issue the…”