Protests Erupt Over Plans to Convert Former Coronation Street Star’s Home into Migrant Housing
A heated protest broke out at the former home of Coronation Street star Julie Goodyear amid fears that the property could be converted into a facility to house illegal migrants. Local residents, numbering over 100, gathered outside the £1.5 million mansion in Heywood, Greater Manchester, voicing their concerns over the proposed changes to the property, which was once the iconic actress’s residence.
Julie Goodyear, now 83, is best known for her portrayal of Bet Lynch on the legendary British soap opera for over 25 years. After receiving a dementia diagnosis in 2024, Goodyear put her sprawling estate on the market. The property, which spans 15 acres, includes a gated cobblestone entrance, 16 stables, four bedrooms, and a large barn, making it a prime location for redevelopment.
Since early 2025, the planning applications for the site have been undergoing several changes. Initial proposals aimed to transform the entire property and outbuildings into a large House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), but these plans were later amended to suggest a 15-bedroom bed and breakfast. The most recent application, submitted in February 2026, now proposes converting the stables into 10 two-bedroom flats and the barn into a three-bedroom dwelling.
However, as construction and demolition work began without proper planning approval, suspicions grew in the local community. Protesters, including Jamie Thomason, 47, who led the demonstration, arrived carrying signs and St George’s flags, and were met by both police officers and private security personnel. Thomason expressed his outrage to The Oldham Times: “We’re here because we’re not having an HMO filled with illegal immigrants running around. It’s just going to be absolutely horrible having that in the neighborhood, and I’m not prepared to let it happen—not a chance.”
Despite the protests, no official documentation has clarified who would occupy the properties if the plans were approved. The local council, Rochdale Council, has insisted that the current proposals are “not for an HMO.” A council spokesperson confirmed that officials had been aware of the building activities and had made multiple visits to stop the work from proceeding without authorization.
A source close to the situation described the entire ordeal as a “crying shame,” noting that Julie Goodyear had spent years creating her “dream home,” which she had decorated in her beloved Bet Lynch style. The controversy over the mansion’s future continues to stir tension in the community, with residents vowing to oppose the plans.
As the council reviews the plans, the fate of the property remains uncertain, and local opposition is unlikely to subside anytime soon. For now, the focus remains on the community’s resistance to potential migrant housing in a once-idyllic neighborhood.
