Ruling due on Coronation Street star Julie Goodyear’s Heywood mansion

The former home of the Cobbles star, who played landlady Bet Lynch for decades, was at the centre of a planning furore earlier this year.

Unfounded rumours that there were plans for the £1.5m mansion at Primrose Hill Farm to be turned into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) for immigrants led to protests outside the Rochdale Road East site.

No valid planning application had actually been submitted to Rochdale Council at the time.

It led to concerns about disinformation being spread about the potential use of the property.

Protesters outside the property on Rochdale Road East in Heywood (Image: Danny Crompton)

Now, new proposals would see three en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor, alongside a kitchen, dining room, reception area, cinema room, and a family bathroom, according to council planning documents.

The site has been subjected to several changing applications in recent months.

Back in October 2025, a building control application for a 15-bed HMO was submitted to the council.

That application was amended on November 10, 2025, to allow for a 15-bedroom bed-and-breakfast.

Building control plans were amended again on February 11 to create 10 two-bedroom apartments and convert the stable conversion into a three-bedroom house.

Primrose Hill Farm, Rochdale Road East, Heywood. Uploaded by George Lythgoe. Credit: Manchester Evening News/Sean Hansford

The scheme was amended again on March 12 to convert the barn into a luxury residential house for one family, including an annex building.

The latest change is much like the planning application that was submitted a month earlier and is now being considered by the council’s planning officers.

Planning papers read: “Our plan aims to address the shortage of luxury housing in the area, which will bring numerous benefits.

“By increasing the supply of high-end properties, we’ll attract affluent residents and businesses, boosting local economic growth and creating jobs.

“This, in turn, will enhance the area’s reputation, improve infrastructure, and increase tax revenue for local services.

“The development will also include amenities like parks, shops, and restaurants, benefiting existing residents and making the area more vibrant.

“A key part of this plan involves restoring the historic barn, currently in a state of despair.

“Urgent work is needed to stabilise the structure, preserve its heritage, and bring it back into use.

“This will not only save a local landmark but also add character to the development, creating a unique selling point for luxury residents.

“Ultimately, our plan will revitalize the area, making it a desirable destination for luxury living and commerce.”

Rochdale Council planners will debate the application at a meeting on Wednesday, August 5.