Up to ten new flats have been given approval near the town centre after having already been used for more than a decade. This comes after Bolton Council approved certificates of lawfulness for two separate lots of five flats on Bradford Street in the Haulgh. The authority gave approval after concluding in this case because the flats had existed for more than 10 years, they would be exempt from enforcement action.
A statement said: “In such cases, the onus of proof is on the applicant and the factual information submitted in support of the application by the applicant forms the basis of the decision, in law, taken by the Local Planning Authority.” Plans showing the layout of the flats (Image: Bolton Council) It added: “On the balance of probabilities it is therefore considered that, as there is no evidence to the contrary, the flats have been in existence for more than 10 years.” ALSO READ: Two next-door shared houses to be created along busy shopping street ALSO READ: Approval for HMO to be extended to accommodate more people The bids for certificates of lawful development for the two sets of five flats were put to Bolton Council on Wednesday September 11 this year.
Each of the flats in the two separate sets of five were confirmed as having existed since at least 2009. Bolton Council announced that it had granted approval for each of the two bids on Tuesday September 24..
