Proposals for the Mossley Hall Farm site
We’re currently exploring plans for a new specialist animal welfare, veterinary and rehabilitation centre for animals most in need.
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Overview of the proposals
We want to bring key services together on one site, supporting animals – particularly those with the most complex medical and behavioural needs – through their journey from rescue through to recovery.
Bringing these services together would help improve how care is provided, reduce delays and relieve pressure on existing facilities.
A joined-up approach to care
The layout of the site is designed around how animals are cared for.
Animals arriving at the centre may need:
- immediate medical treatment
- rehabilitation
- ongoing behavioural support before rehoming.
By bringing specialist vet, behaviourist and rehabilitation teams together on one site, we can deliver care more quickly and improve outcomes for animals.
Wider benefits to the area
In addition to supporting animal welfare, the proposed facility is expected to bring wider benefits to the area, including:
- employment for around 120 to 150 people, alongside opportunities for volunteers
- opportunities for training, skills development and education
- potential partnerships with local organisations and colleges.
The facility would support a range of roles, including veterinary professionals, animal care staff and operational teams.
We want our new site to become a place for the community, provide jobs, training and volunteering opportunities, as well as spaces for people to come together to learn and to take action for animals.
The new facility is expected to support a wide range of services
The proposed centre would be a one-stop-shop site, bringing together medical and behavioural care to give rescued animals the best possible chance for future happiness.
- Veterinary facilities for specialist lifesaving treatment and routine care
- Areas for animal intake, triage and assessment
- Rehabilitation and recovery spaces
- Rehoming and behavioural support
- Education and community space
- Offices and operational areas.
Funding
The proposed centre has been made possible by a generous donation from a charitable trust, alongside investment from the RSPCA and support from a wider fundraising campaign.
The proposed site and layout
The site covers a large area of agricultural land and includes existing farm buildings. The proposals are being developed as a low-rise, landscape-led campus, with buildings arranged in smaller groups across the existing footprint.
This approach is intended to:
- reduce the visual impact of development
- maintain openness across the site
- allow buildings to sit more naturally within the landscape
- position buildings to minimise any impact on ecology or the environment.
The approach we’re proposing would also help to create quieter, more contained spaces for animals.
You can view the full proposal for the site by downloading the following files on this page.
Design approach
The design is being shaped by both the setting and the needs of the animals we care for.
Key principles include:
- locating buildings to reduce noise and disturbance
- creating separate areas for different types of activity
- limiting overlooking between spaces to support animal welfare.
Existing features such as hedgerows, tree belts and woodland will be retained where possible and used to help structure the layout.
Evolution of proposals
The proposals are still at an early stage and will continue to develop. Feedback from this consultation, along with ongoing technical work, will help refine:
- the layout of the site
- the scale and design of buildings
- how the facility operates.
Access and movement
We know access and traffic are important considerations for local communities, and these are being carefully assessed as part of the proposals.
A detailed Transport Statement has been prepared to understand how the proposed centre at Mossley Hall Farm would operate and how it would interact with the local highway network.
The assessment shows that the facility is expected to generate around 200 vehicle movements per day, with up to around 38 movements in the busiest hour.
This reflects the way the centre would operate, with staff arriving and leaving at staggered times and activity spread throughout the day.
In practice, this would equate to a relatively low level of traffic, with vehicles arriving and departing gradually rather than all at once. Once distributed across the surrounding road network, the impact would not be material.
The proposed main access for the facility would be taken from Byrom Lane, which will be designed to safely accommodate staff, visitors and operational vehicles.
Detailed access arrangements are still being developed and will be informed by ongoing technical assessments.
Public right of way
A public right of way (PRoW) currently runs through the site. To give rescued animals the space and peace they need to give them the best chance of recovery, it’s proposed that this route be diverted to a new alignment closer to Pennington Flash.
This approach would:
- maintain public access through the area
- reduce disturbance to animals during treatment and recovery
- support quieter and more controlled environments within the facility
- improve links with the wider network of footpaths around the Flash.
The revised route would balance public access with the needs of the facility, helping protect animal welfare while maintaining and improving links within the wider footpath network.
The RSPCA is committed to working with relevant stakeholders to ensure the final alignment is appropriate and delivers wider public benefit.
Public transport and active travel
Public transport is available in the surrounding area, with bus services connecting Leigh, Golborne and nearby towns.
The nearest bus stops are located on Slag Lane, within walking distance of the site, providing access to local bus routes and connections to the wider area.
While the site is in a semi-rural location, it’s accessible by a range of transport options. We’ll consider opportunities to support walking and cycling, including safe access into the site and appropriate cycle parking.
Parking and servicing
The proposals are expected to include:
- parking for staff and visitors
- accessible parking spaces
- covered cycle parking
- areas for service and operational vehicles.
Parking is proposed near the site entrance to help manage movement within the site and minimise vehicle activity across the wider campus. Further details will be provided as the design develops.
Next steps
A full Transport Assessment and Travel Plan will be prepared as part of the planning application.
These will:
- assess traffic and movement
- identify any improvements needed
- set out how sustainable travel will be supported.
Environmental considations
Our proposals have been sensitively and carefully designed to consider the environment.
Environment context
The site is located on the edge of Lowton, next to Pennington Flash. Pennington Flash is an important area for wildlife and recreation.
It forms part of a wider network of nature sites, including a Local Nature Reserve and National Nature Reserve, and is a recognised wildlife corridor.
The site is also located within the Green Belt, and we recognise this is an important consideration.
Our considations
We care about animals, people and our planet. Our new centre will be environmentally considerate, and we are committed to enhancing the site so that it attracts more wildlife for generations to come.
The proposals are being developed to respond to the clear need for a centre of this kind, while carefully considering the site and its surroundings.
Ecology and biodiversity
The site includes a mix of habitats, including hedgerows, trees and open land.
Detailed ecology surveys are being carried out to understand what habitats and species are present, how these habitats and species can be protected and where there are opportunities to enhance biodiversity.
Our considations
By grouping the new buildings close to the footprint of the existing farm, we can leave the surrounding pasture land and water frontage of the Pennington Flash alone. If any animals are living where the work is happening, we’ll carefully and safely move them to new spots nearby, adding features such as bat boxes and bird nesting spots.
If building work has any unavoidable impact, we’ll make up for it by creating even better habitats elsewhere on our land. In short, our goal is to leave the land in better shape than we found it, to increase biodiversity and support wildlife for generations to come.
If building work has any unavoidable impact, we’ll make up for it by creating even better habitats elsewhere on our land. In short, our goal is to leave the land in better shape than we found it, to increase biodiversity and support wildlife for generations to come.
Our approach to design
We’re taking a landscape-led approach to the design of the site. Our new centre will be environmentally considerate, and we are committed to enhancing the site so that it attracts more wildlife for generations to come.
This means working with the existing features of the land and responding carefully to the surrounding area.
The proposals aim to:
- retain important natural features where possible
- fit within the existing landscape
- avoid more sensitive areas of the site.
The layout is being shaped to reduce impact and support both the setting and the operation of the facility.
Next steps
A range of technical studies will support the planning application, including:
- ecology surveys
- Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
- Flood Risk Assessment
- noise and environmental assessments.
These will help ensure the proposals are carefully designed and fully assessed.
Landscape and visual impact
The site sits within a rural landscape, so careful design is important. The proposals are being developed as a low-rise campus, with buildings arranged in smaller groups.
This approach helps to, reduce the overall visual impact , maintain openness across the site and allow the development to sit more naturally within the landscape.
Existing trees and planting will be retained where possible, with additional landscaping proposed to support the setting.
Environmental sustainability
We’re aiming for an energy-efficient site that runs entirely on green energy and are planning to install solar panels and heat-exchange pumps to reduce our operational carbon footprint. From lighting to the building design and materials, every detail will consider the environment.
We’ll also consider the best way to manage water and wastewater to keep our impact on nature to a minimum. This will include the potential use of rainwater collection and grey water, and nature-based waste-water treatment.
Flood risk and drainage
A detailed Flood Risk Assessment and a comprehensive Sustainable Drainage Strategy will be prepared to ensure that:
flood risk is managed appropriately and surface water is handled in a sustainable way.
A detailed Flood Risk Assessment and a comprehensive Sustainable Drainage Strategy will be prepared to ensure that:
flood risk is managed appropriately and surface water is handled in a sustainable way.
Supporting the wider area
The site sits alongside Pennington Flash, which has an established role as a nature and visitor destination.
The proposals will be developed to support the wider aims for this area, including: protecting and enhancing habitats , supporting nature recovery, responding to the existing landscape and public access network, andimproving the visitor experience around Pennington Flash.
