A historic site on the borough's green belt could be converted into flats if plans are approved on Tuesday.

Walshaw Hall, which until 2019 was a 50-bed rural care home, is the subject of a proposal to convert it into 19 flats.

The hall near Tottington had operated as a registered care home since 1986.

Owners Capstone Care have applied for the house, which is within a designated green belt area and dates back to the 19th century, to be converted into one and two-bedroom apartments.

In documents submitted with the planning application, Capstone explained the recent history of the building.

They said: “In 2013 Capstone Care were granted planning consent for a new purpose-designed care home adjacent to Walshaw Hall.

"The Beeches opened in 2016 and provides dementia care for residents with 56 bedrooms.

“When the new care home opened, the existing care home in Walshaw Hall retained as a lower dependency and respite care facility. 

"It soon became clear that the 30-year-old facilities in Walshaw Hall, with inadequate bedrooms and en suite facilities, narrow corridors and areas accessible only via stairs, were no longer fit for purpose in comparison with the newly built care home, nor was there sufficient demand for the type of care which Walshaw Hall could provide in is current form.

“The decision was taken to close Walshaw Hall in 2019.

"The buildings have been vacant since and Capstone Care are now seeking planning consent to bring the former care home back into use by converting to apartments for open market sale.”

The proposed conversion to apartments will create nine one-bed flats and 10 with two-bedrooms.

Walshaw Hall is a non-designated heritage asset as it is included on Bury Council’s draft local list. The plans also include 45 parking spaces, with three disabled spots and provision for electric vehicle charging.

The plans said the current access from Bradshaw Road was improved as part of the care home construction works in 2016 and no additional changes are needed.

The council have received 14 letters of objection to the plans.

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to the Bury Times morning newsletter as well as our breaking news alerts

Among issues raised were that it would be "irresponsible to build this type of accommodation in a location that has no public transport and no safe means of walking to any local amenities".

Another objector said: “The historical character and setting of Walshaw Hall with its grand exterior and impressive heritage interior features and gardens needs to be retained as an elderly independent living facility.”

Capstone’s summary of the application said: “The proposal is well thought out, efficiently reuses Walshaw Hall and will continue the useful life of this locally listed building in a sustainable manner.”

The council's planning committee will make a decision on the plans on Tuesday, March 19.