Controversial plans to build a new housing estate on a former chemical works have been backed for approval by council bosses - despite more than 100 public objections. Proposals for the 127-home development at the old Akzo Nobel site, near Hollingworth Lake, in Littleborough, will go before Rochdale council’s planning committee on Thursday night.
Lodged by Vistry Partnerships Ltd and Homes England, the application is the latest bid to get the 20 acre plot cleaned up and transformed into housing, after 15 years of failed attempts. The scheme, which has been scaled down from the original 174-home proposal, features a mix of properties, ranging from two-bed to five-bed homes.
Some 19 of these would be classed as ‘affordable’ - including 14 for ‘shared ownership’. Plans to redevelop the site - acquired for £10m by Homes England in 2017 - have long proven controversial in the Pennines town.
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Last year Littleborough Civic Trust raised serious concerns after planning documents revealed asbestos was still present on the land, despite remediation work being carried out in 2008 and 2009 as part of previous unfinished schemes, Homes England says mitigation will take place as part of the development process.
And there has been fierce opposition from locals - with some 103 objectors raising concerns over flood risks, contamination, increased traffic and unmapped mine works. However, a report to the council’s planning committee recommends members grant planning permission for the scheme - provided the applicant agrees to make some hefty financial contributions to roads, education, leisure and affordable housing.
It reads: “The proposed development would bring a previously developed site back into use, after a long period of being vacant. Furthermore, the application provides the opportunity to complete remediation of the site, in a way which will be suitable for the proposed use and will reduce the potential for harm arising.”
The proposed site is also described as a ‘sustainable location’, with local amenities and transport links ‘within walking distance’.The site sits next to land Bloor Homes has earmarked for 300 homes under Greater Manchester’s joint development plan ‘Places for Everyone’.
Council officers claim the Vistry/Homes England plans would ‘be compatible with any future adjacent development, notably with regards to the provision of open space and pedestrian links’. These assertions are sure to be fiercely disputed by objectors at Thursday night’s meeting, however.
The civic trust, which is leading opposition to the plans, describes the site as ‘probably the most contentious brown field site in the north west’. It says roads are already congested, with junctions ‘over capacity’, and the development will only make the situation worse. It also claims the data used by the council’s highways department is ‘flawed’.
The group also believes it is in the public interest for ‘proper enquiries’ to be made in respect of the ‘asbestos contamination on the site – and it should ‘not be left to planning conditions’ to resolve the issue. It is also expected the trust will raise concerns over unrecorded mineshafts and the strain on local health services.
Rochdale council planning and licensing committee meets at Number One Riverside from 6pm on Thursday (October 20).
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