DEVELOPER of Formby Hall, Hilldale Housing, say they 'don't expect the outcome to be any different' after learning of the Secretary of State's decision to call in the application to demolish Formby Hall. 

In a planning meeting on January 19, the decision to demolish the popular civic venue was approved by elected councillors by nine votes to three.

Developer Formby Hall Limited, who will be working alongside Hilldale Housing Association to erect and run an elderly care facility on the site, had previously had an application refused by the council as they did not include 'sufficient detail' in regards to how the demolition would take place.

But now it seems their plans have been stalled once again after Rt Hon Greg Clark, secretary of state for communities and local government, called in the application, meaning the local authority is no longer in charge of its fate.

The turnaround comes after stringent campaigns to save the hall by residents and councillors, who turned to MP for Bolton West Chris Green.

In a letter sent before Christmas, the MP called for the secretary to step in and save what he described as 'Atherton's much-loved community hub' and said he is 'delighted' the hall's importance has been recognised.

He added: "Everyone knows that Formby Hall was gifted to the people of Atherton and it is simply wrong that Wigan Council ever granted permission to knock it down.

"This is down to the hard work of Atherton Residents Associations, councillors like Jamie Hodgkinson and all the local people who have fought against these plans to knock down our community hub.

"I’d also like to thank the minister for taking the time to look into this important issue.

"This is not the end and it does not guarantee that Formby Hal will be saved but I am looking forward to seeing the results of this new independent inquiry."

The decision has also been met with joy from residents and councillors.

Carol Roberts, who spoke against the demolition at the planing committee meeting, said: "It is brilliant news, just brilliant.

"It's been hard work and a real rollercoaster but hopefully our hard work and determination may start to pay off."

Meanwhile Cllr Hodgkinson says he hopes the secretary of state will investigate why the hall was sold in the first place and why the council did not keep checks on the state of the building.

He added: "Formby Hall was the only hall that was making money in 2010-2011 and Rose Leisure let it go.

"If the community bid was accepted in the first place then we wouldn't be fighting to save it and the place would be thriving.

"Let's hope we get the opportunity to take control and give it back to the town and people who it was left to in the first place.

"Wigan Council should be supporting the community and finding ways to get the hall they let go back."

But developer Hilldale Housing says it still expects the demolition of Formby Hall to go ahead.

Steve Sargent of Hilldale Housing said: "We have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the local authority that our proposed method of demolition was acceptable and so the only decision they could make was to approve the application.

"Nevertheless we did expect the decision to be challenged.

"As the application has been called in by the secretary of state, the decision has been delayed but we do not expect the outcome to be any different.

"We intend on submitting a full planning application in due course."

Lord Peter Smith, Leader of Wigan Council, said: “We have received notification from the Secretary of State stating he has decided to call in the application for prior notification to demolish Formby Hall.  

"However, no grounds have been provided as to why that is the case. This has never happened before.

“Planning laws meant that the only matters the council's planning committee could take into account when considering the prior notice for demolition were the method of demolition and restoration of the site. 

“We are aware of community concern about the loss of the building but the loss of the hall as a local amenity was not something the planning committee was able to take account of in reaching their decision.

"This is clear political intervention.

"We shall continue to demand to know why this happened and will use every means including FOI requests to get to the bottom of it.”