Owner of Bury restaurants wants to open spa in former Oldham church

A planning application for the former St Paul's Church, on Huddersfield Road, would also see an indoor and outdoor pool built at the site, which has previously been a bridal shop.

Permission to install signage for the new venue on the building's parapet has been approved but a change of use application remains pending.

Within planning documents detailing the style of the signs, developers state that the applicant, Luke Rafferty, is the owner of two restaurants in Bury.

He is also linked to Oldham, with Mr Rafferty first opening Smoke Yard in Oldham in 2015.

He later opened West Ivy in Bury town centre, which he sold Smoke Yard to focus on and later also opened Drip, in Bury, which has since been rebranded into Alfred's.

His restaurants sell a range of food, including hanging skewers, steaks, burgers and small plates, and each has its own unique feel.

A CGI of the sign for the planned conversion of St Paul's church into a restaurant and spa (Image: Office Renoso-Urmston)

The Oldham restaurant and spa would be called The Cotton, and if successful, the plans will see an external swimming pool built at the front of the building, in addition to an indoor pool inside.

The floor plan of the new restaurant (Image: Office Renoso-Urmston)

The restaurant and spa would be set across three levels, according to the planning documents, with a 23-space car park.

Both pools will be located on the ground floor, along with an entrance way, a 40sqm treatment room, lockers, store rooms and a prep kitchen.

There will be four treatment rooms on the second floor if plans are approved, including one large 74sqm room, and three smaller rooms, as well as a private dining room, which appears to be located in the apse of the former church, and an adjoining bar.