Plans to demolish the former Friezland Station house in Greenfield and replace it with a single self‑build property have been given the green light by Oldham Council – but the couple behind the scheme must first sign a legal agreement guaranteeing the new home will genuinely be lived in by them.

Paul and Natalie Bamber have secured full planning permission for the development on Station Lane after outline approval was granted last June. The 130‑year‑old former railway station building, which has long since been converted into a house, is now set to be knocked down to make way for a new dwelling that will include a swimming pool.

Oldham Council has stressed that the permission is conditional on the completion of a legal agreement to ensure the property remains a true self‑build home. A spokesperson explained: “Self‑build developments are treated differently in planning law – they are exempt from certain requirements that apply to homes built for sale or rent, such as Biodiversity Net Gain. Because of that exemption, the council needs a legal agreement to make sure the property genuinely is delivered and occupied as a self‑build. The agreement requires the owner to provide evidence after construction that they have built and then lived in the home themselves. Without this safeguard, someone could claim a self‑build exemption to avoid certain obligations and then simply sell the completed property on the open market.”

The applicants had initially sought outline permission for four homes on the site, but conditions relating to the upgrading and resurfacing of Station Lane made that scheme “unviable and potentially undeliverable,” according to council documents. The revised single‑house proposal avoids those access requirements, allowing Station Lane to remain unaltered.

Friezland Station, on the Micklehurst Loop Line, first opened to passengers on 1 July 1886. It closed to passenger services on 1 January 1917, although the building remained in use for other purposes until final closure on 27 February 1965. The two flanking platforms and the connecting footbridge that once stood behind the main building have long since disappeared. After the line shut completely, the building was converted into a private residence.

One objection to the current scheme was lodged with the council. The objector argued that the property had been allowed to fall into disrepair and should be renovated instead, adding that “Saddleworth deserves better.” However, planning officers were satisfied that the new design was acceptable. In a report they stated: “While the design does not replicate the appearance of the existing property, there is no requirement for it to do so. The surrounding area comprises a diverse mix of building ages, styles and architectural design and the proposed dwelling is regarded as an acceptable addition that would sit comfortably within this varied context.”

Local residents in Greenfield and the wider Saddleworth area will now watch as yet another piece of railway heritage makes way for modern housing. The latest step follows years of uncertainty over the site’s future, but with full planning approval now granted – subject to the legal agreement – the Bambers can begin work on their self‑build project once the paperwork is signed.