Planning permission for religious cross sculpture on green belt land rejected

Planning permission for a religious cross sculpture on green belt land in Norden was denied at the Planning and Licensing Committee on Monday (9 July).

The application had been deferred from an earlier date, due to a lack of ‘very special circumstances’ by the applicant.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/119241/planning-permission-deferred-for-religious-cross-sculpture-on-greenbelt-land

The Committee considered the views of ward councillor Jim Gartside, who spoke in support of the application, but permission was ultimately refused as the application represented ‘inappropriate development within the green belt’.

It was considered that the applicant had ‘not advanced very special circumstances to outweigh the harm that would arise’.

A similar cross lies on the hills above Oldham, which inspired the proposed timber sculpture near Edenfield Road, submitted as part of a local ‘Churches Together’ project.

Designed to celebrate Christianity, the plans would also have included a landscaped area and stone wall boundary, plus creating an additional pathway from the existing public footpath.