Key Points
- There have been several new planning applications submitted to Bury Council, including an extensive hybrid application for 283 houses in full, and up to 120 additional houses in outline on the site to the east of Castle Road, Bury.
- The Castle Road application reference 73519 is for a 5.4-hectare outline site, along with other works, and comes after previous reports which suggest that the total number of proposed houses could be 403.
- Newbank Garden Centre on Bury Road, Radcliffe, has submitted an application for prior approval for roof mounted solar photovoltaic panels.
- A lawful development certificate has been sought for the conversion of a dwelling on 385 Manchester Road, Bury, into a children’s care home.
- There have been several applications for loft conversions, dormers, extensions, garage conversions and signage from householders in Bury, Prestwich, Whitefield, Tottington, Pimhole and Hawkshaw.
- The United Reformed Church on Bury New Road, Whitefield, has submitted an application for listed building consent for internal works, including WC arrangements and heating works.
Bury (Manchester Mirror) October 22, 2026 — Bury Council has received a new set of planning applications featuring a proposed 283-home development, solar panels at a Radcliffe garden centre, a children’s care home conversion and a range of home improvements across the borough.
As reported by the Bury Times and the Prestwich and Whitefield Guide, the latest submissions range from a large residential scheme on land east of Castle Road to smaller loft conversions, extensions and signage proposals. The publications listed the applications as a summary of the most recent plans submitted to the council.
What is proposed at Castle Road?
The largest application concerns land east of Castle Road, Bury. It is a hybrid application comprising two parts: a full planning application for 283 dwellings with associated works, and an outline planning application for up to 120 dwellings on a 5.4-hectare site, with access included and all other matters reserved.
The application carries reference number 73519. Under a hybrid application, the detailed element seeks permission for a specific, fully described scheme, while the outline element establishes the principle of development for the remaining part of the site, leaving detailed matters to be resolved later.
The Bury Times previously reported that housebuilder Wain Homes was seeking permission for a larger residential development of 403 homes on land between Castle Road and Griffe Lane in Unsworth. According to that report, 283 homes were being applied for in full, while a further 120 would be submitted for detailed approval at a later stage.
The Manchester Evening News also reported that the 403-home proposal was split into two segments, with full planning approval sought for 283 homes occupying approximately three-quarters of the designated site, and outline permission sought for the remaining 120 residences.
Which smaller housing plans have been submitted?
Several applications relate to changes and extensions at existing homes.
At 22 Louis Avenue, Bury, an applicant has sought a lawful development certificate for a proposed loft conversion with a dormer under permitted development. The application reference is 73757.
At 28 Victoria Street, Tottington, a lawful development certificate has been requested for a proposed loft conversion with a rear dormer, under reference 73752.
At 4 Prospect Court, Tottington, plans have been submitted for a single-storey side and rear extension. The application is listed under reference 73750.
At 35 Inglewhite Close, Bury, the proposal involves the conversion and extension of an existing garage to form an annex. It is listed under reference 73520.
At Tonge Fold Farm, Hawkshaw Lane, Hawkshaw, the applicant proposes a single-storey side extension, a raised terrace and a freestanding louvred canopy. The reference number is 73737.
At 145 Rochdale Road, Pimhole, Bury, plans have been lodged for a part single-storey, part two-storey side extension. The application reference is 73743.
What non-residential plans are before the council?
Newbank Garden Centre, on Bury Road, Radcliffe, has submitted an application for prior approval for the proposed installation of solar photovoltaic panels on its roof. The application reference is 73761.
Solar photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electricity. A prior approval application is a limited planning process used for certain types of development where the principle is already permitted, but the council can assess specified impacts.
At 69 Sandy Lane, Prestwich, an application has been made to replace existing non-illuminated fascia signage with a partially illuminated fascia sign. The reference number is 73751.
The United Reformed Church on Bury New Road, Whitefield, has applied for listed building consent for improvements to the WC layout, the heating system and other minor internal works. The application is listed under reference 73718.
Listed building consent is separate from ordinary planning permission and is required for works affecting a listed building’s character as a building of special architectural or historic interest.
What is proposed for the children’s care home?
An application has been submitted for a lawful development certificate at 385 Manchester Road, Bury, for a proposed change of use from a dwelling, classified as Class C3, to a children’s care home, classified as Class C2. The application reference is 73707.
A lawful development certificate does not itself grant planning permission. Instead, it asks the council to confirm whether a proposed use or works would be lawful under planning legislation. The application, as listed by the Bury Times and Prestwich and Whitefield Guide, concerns the proposed change of use rather than a detailed operational proposal.
How can residents view or comment?
Bury Council says residents can search for planning applications that have been registered and determined through its public access system. The council’s planning consultations page states that people can search by application reference or property address, view associated documents, identify case officers and make or view public comments.
The council’s planning permission pages also confirm that applications, appeals and enforcement cases can be searched by keyword, application reference, postcode or address.
The applications listed in the latest roundup include reference numbers, which residents can use to locate the relevant documents and submission details on the council’s planning portal.
Background of the development
The Castle Road proposal is the most significant scheme in the latest list. Earlier coverage by the Bury Times, published on October 17, 2026, described plans for more than 400 homes on farmland off Castle Road in Unsworth, identifying Wain Homes as the housebuilder behind the application. That report said the application would now be considered by Bury Council as part of the planning process.
The Manchester Evening News, in a report published on October 19, 2026, similarly described the proposal as involving 403 homes, with 283 homes sought under full planning approval and the remaining 120 under outline permission.
Bury Council’s own housing strategy material refers to new homes being built in Bury town centre, Radcliffe, Prestwich and Whitefield, while its Local Plan housing topic paper was published in June 2026. These documents provide the wider policy setting in which individual planning applications are assessed, although each application is determined on its own merits.bury.gov+1
The remaining applications in the latest roundup are smaller in scale. They concern individual homes, a garden centre, a church and a proposed children’s care home, reflecting the routine volume of planning work handled by a local planning authority.
Prediction: How could this affect residents?
For residents in Bury, Unsworth, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Whitefield, Tottington, Pimhole and Hawkshaw, the applications could shape future neighbourhood conditions if approved.
The Castle Road scheme is likely to attract the greatest local interest because of its scale. If approved in full and built out, it could increase the local population, add demand for schools, roads, public transport, GP services and open space, and alter the character of the area around Castle Road and Griffe Lane. Conversely, it could add housing supply at a time when Bury Council’s strategic documents identify new homes across several parts of the borough.
For households living near the smaller application sites, the immediate effects would be more localised. Loft conversions, dormers, extensions and garage conversions can affect neighbouring amenity through issues such as overlooking, loss of light, privacy and construction disturbance, although these matters are assessed through the planning process.
The solar panel proposal at Newbank Garden Centre could reduce the site’s reliance on grid electricity if installed, while the proposed children’s care home conversion at 385 Manchester Road may prompt questions from nearby residents about the change of use and its operation. The council’s decision on the lawful development certificate will determine whether the proposed use is lawful in planning terms.
