Rumours recently triggered a heated demonstration outside a property once owned by a Coronation Street legend. A £1.5 million mansion in Heywood suddenly became the subject of public anger after claims spread online that immigrants would be housed there.
Residents and protesters gathered outside the gates believing the site would become a house in multiple occupation, but local officials later confirmed that the claims were inaccurate.
Protest Breaks Out At Former Home Of Corrie Star
The property involved in the controversy is Primrose Hill Farm, previously owned for decades by Julie Goodyear, known to viewers as Bet Lynch on Coronation Street. Goodyear sold the estate in April 2025 after many years of ownership. Rumours circulating online suggested that the mansion would be converted into a house in multiple occupation intended to house immigrants.
Demonstrators soon gathered outside the estate waving St George’s flags and Union Jacks. Several protesters carried banners, lit flares, and stood along the road near the property while the demonstration continued.
Local officials quickly addressed the situation. Paul O’Neill stated that false information had driven the protest and confirmed that no planning permission had been granted for such use of the property. He warned that misinformation had created unnecessary tension and said authorities must stop the spread of inaccurate claims.
Development Proposals Added To The Confusion
Concerns increased after construction activity began at Primrose Hill Farm without planning permission. According to Rochdale Council, the last planning request linked directly to Goodyear dated back to 2006. It was when she applied to fill in an all-weather exercise arena on the land. Officials refused that request.
A different set of proposals appeared after the property changed ownership in 2025. A building control application submitted in October suggested converting the estate into a 15-bedroom house in multiple occupation. Later revisions altered the proposal several times.
Plans submitted on 10 November 2025 proposed turning the building into a 15-bedroom bed and breakfast. Another amendment submitted on 11 February suggested a different project altogether. A ten two-bedroom apartments across the site, while the stable block would become a separate three-bedroom house.
Authorities confirmed that none of these proposals received approval. Rochdale Council explained that the application lacked enough information for planning officers to properly evaluate it, which meant the submission was considered invalid and never appeared on the official planning portal.
Despite the uproar and public demonstration, officials continue to stress that no confirmed plans exist to house immigrants at the property. Authorities are now monitoring the site closely while the planning situation remains unresolved. For more such Coronation Street updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily!