Middleton businessman spends thousands transforming shop – only to be told to change it back in planning row

A businessman is going to battle with his own council over a difference of opinion regarding his shop front.

The owner of Peeco Ltd, a window and door showroom in Middleton, says that he has been harshly treated after Rochdale Council refused planning permission for his new shop front.

Chris Daly’s dream new showroom for his business has turned into a nightmare after he spent thousands of pounds transforming the Manchester New Road shop – only to be told by the council to change it back to how it was. This is because he did not apply for planning permission initially for the change, and was later refused retrospective permission.

In their letter of refusal, the council said: “The existing stallriser and inset front entrance would be unduly harmful to the character and appearance of the building and the surrounding street scene.”

The 41-year-old believes the new shop look is actually more visually appealing without the shutters and says he has even received compliments from neighbours since it opened in August. 

“We are only a small business and we are trying to grow,” the father-of-two said. “I’ve tried to keep it in character with the building.  People are saying it is in keeping with the heritage of the building as well. The people living over the road said they are over the moon with what we’ve done.  (When I was told the decision) I was like, ‘what do I do now’, I was thinking, is this it, and where do I find the money to put it back?  Small businesses are struggling, I’m worried about having to close it down after spending all this money.”

Chris said he is going to appeal the council’s decision but that the saga has come at the cost of time, money and his own health. He said the ordeal has left him constantly feeling stressed and concerned about the future of his business – which has been going for almost a decade. 

The location is near to his home and the idea behind the transformation was to show off his products to the masses going down Manchester New Road – without shutters blocking the view. Since posting about the council’s decision, he has received dozens of letters of support from locals and customers, and on social media.

“I am a local business not being supported by my own council,” Chris continued. “If they do make me turn it back to how it was, I will be forced to close. I love it here, I don’t want to give it up. I will fight until the end for this.”

Although the council are not saying he cannot operate from the location on the junction of Kingsway, they deem his shop front to be a ‘visual harm’ to the area. Usually, if a retrospective planning application is refused, the building must be turned back to its original design – something Chris wants to avoid after investing thousands.

The decision notice, officially issued on January 16 to Peeco Ltd, read: “The installation of the proposed shop front and the loss of the character and detailing of the existing stallriser and inset front entrance would be unduly harmful to the character and appearance of the building and the surrounding street scene. The lack of cohesion between the design language of the proposed shop front and the existing property would exacerbate the visual harm in this location and the application ultimately fails to amount to a satisfactory standard of design.”

It went on to say: “The proposal would not improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area nor does it comply with the development plan and therefore does not comprise sustainable development. There were no amendments to the scheme, or conditions which could reasonably have been imposed, which could have made the development acceptable and it was therefore not possible to approve the application.”

Rochdale Council was approached for comment, but did not want to add anything further.