A new apartment block is set to be built on an empty parcel of land in Bury, where a church stood more than a decade ago.
The three-storey block of 15 one-bedroom flats has been approved at the site previously home to St Mary and Phillip RC Church, which was demolished in 2009.
The new housing development will be located on the corner of Spring Lane and Bury Road in Radcliffe.
Housing association Bolton At Home has committed to offering 15 apartments for affordable rent in the new building.
A car park of 12 spaces would be provided together with a cycle storage as part of the proposed development.
But concerns were raised about the impact that the development would have on access to St Marys Social Club.
The social club said it was pleased to hear of the plans for the development, but claimed the proposal would breach its right of access, which was granted in 1935.
This is because the access to the cellar drop where deliveries are received on Spring Lane is due to be planted, according to the club.
Radcliffe East Rhyse Cathcart described the social club as an “essential” part of the community and said that he hoped that the “civil matter” between the social club and the developer would be resolved.
But the councillor who represents the area told the planning committee he was satisfied his concerns about bin storage and electric vehicle charging points were covered by the conditions the council has set the developer.
He said: “I’m not against the actual planning application. I do acknowledge that the developer has amended the plans.
“I read the current plans and I can see that conditions are in there.”
Planning committee member, Cllr Cristina Tegolo, raised concerns about accessibility and mobility in the building which will not have a lift.
Referring to a similar development on the bank of the River Irwell on land off Millett Street which was approved in November, she complained that all of the proposed apartments would be only one-bedroom in size.
She said: “I appreciate that this is 100 per cent affordable but I’m concerns that this is the second development we have seen which is 100 per cent one-bedroom.”
Bury Council’s head of development management Dave Marno said that some of Cllr Tegolo’s concerns were a matter for building regulations and not for the planning committee to consider.
The planning committee voted to approve the application at a town hall meeting on Tuesday evening.
