The key Greater Manchester plans submitted this week including Starbucks, Greggs and Heaton Park vision

Two new drive-thrus in Oldham and a £5m family attraction in Heaton Park are the big talking points for planning developments this week across Greater Manchester.

Manchester Council have asked for expressions of interest from the private sector over plans to build an outdoor and indoor play and education centre in a 640 acre spot inside the park.

Over in Oldham, two well-known chains could soon be bringing their trade to the car park of Tesco Superstore. Starbucks and Greggs could soon be opening as drive-thrus in the area, the latter being the first of its kind in the borough if they are approved.

Here is a look at the different applications borough by borough…

Bolton

Demolition of long-closed pub planned to make way for block of flats

A long-closed pub building is set to be demolished and replaced with a block of flats. Plans have been submitted to knock down the former White Horse Hotel on Egerton Street, Farnworth and build a three-storey block of one and two-bed flats. Plans submitted in the past week by applicant Patrick O’Neill said the White Horse Hotel closed in 1996 and only the first floor is now partially occupied and used as offices. The property adjoining the hotel was a betting shop until it closed.

Bury

Empty mill building to be turned into housing for people with mental health issues

An empty mill is to be transformed into housing for people with mental health issues. Bury Council plans to create supported living accommodation for 14 adults at Topping Mill. The mill building, in Topping Street, Bury is a red-brick, two-storey former industrial mill constructed in the mid to late 1800s. The building was occupied by confectioners Scott & Rosse before they vacated it in the 1960s, and has been vacant for several years.

Manchester

A huge £5M family attraction could be coming to the ‘heart of Heaton Park’

A huge £5m ‘family attraction’ could be built on five acres of land ‘at the heart of Heaton Park’. Manchester City Council are inviting expressions of interest from the private sector to develop a five acre area close to the boating lake for ‘a mix of an outdoor and indoor play and education’. The council have published an invitation to potential partners for ‘suitably qualified suppliers who could potentially design, build, and operate a new family attraction facility at the heart of Heaton Park’. A brochure outlining the opportunity, with a total investment cost of around £5M, has been published by the authority.

Oldham

New 5G mast planned for Oldham car park

Plans for a new 20m 5G mast have been submitted by EE UK Ltd and Hutchison UK Ltd in Oldham. The new mast would be installed to the south of Roscoe Street car park. The idea behind it is to improve broadband and network coverage in the area.

New Starbucks and Greggs planned in Tesco car park

A new Starbucks and Greggs could be coming to Oldham after plans for a new drive-thrus unit in Tesco car park have been submitted. The two high profile coffee and bakery chains would be put in the north eastern area of the current Tesco car park off Featherstall Road North. There is an overgrown building that would be demolished in order to make way for the new takeaways and 41 car parking spaces.

Stockport

Stepping Hill Hospital plans temporary units to retain their expanded services to examine bloods

Stockport’s Stepping Hill Hospital wants to maintain their capacity to sample bloods for various diseases with two new temporary portacabins on site. The Poplar Grove site has submitted plans to retain the extra pathology units on site which are currently in operation. If plans are approved, they will be able to keep the portacabins until November 1, 2028.

Trafford

New apartments could replace old outbuildings in Flixton

Outbuildings and a garage off Flixton Road could be demolished and replaced with new apartments. The site, in Flixton, would require the demolition of the current site before the six new apartments could be built. The new homes would all have one bedroom with one car parking space per apartment – if approved by council.

Wigan

More parking spaces for Abram community

A plan to increase parking spaces in a residential area of Abram in Wigan has been submitted. Mrs Hayley Walton has asked for planning permission to create 20 new car parking bays off Kingsdown Road. The plan would see parking provision created on the grass verge which is surrounded by housing.