Dozens of new homes are to be built on a former soccer village site in Rochdale.
The now defunct-sports centre, off Wildhouse Lane, will be demolished to make way for 47 houses, ranging from two bedroom to five-bedroom properties.
Rochdale council’s planning committee has given the go-ahead for the scheme, including six bungalows on a ‘small parcel’ of green belt land.
Tom Whitehead of developer Lancet Homes told a meeting of the committee the firm had an ‘excellent track record’ of creating high quality schemes, often working in partnership with local authorities.
He added: “Rochdale is a key location for investment and growth and we want to drive increased confidence in the borough, especially in these uncertain times.”
The company’s agent, Dough Hann, also spoke in favour of the proposals.
He said: “The scheme, overall, will deliver significant benefits in terms of redeveloping an unsightly brownfield site, delivering higher value family homes and delivering bungalows that meet not only an elderly need but a need for many people.”
Mr Hann added that the development would also better complement nearby Grade II* listed Birchinley Manor, while new area of open space on the site would offset the loss of green belt land.
However, local resident Greg Baker spoke against the scheme.
The Milnrow resident raised concerns over road safety - particularly where the speed limit changes near the junction of Kiln Lane and Wildhouse Lane.
And he also took issue with the absence of affordable housing, which council officers had accepted would make the development ‘financially unviable’.
The bungalows on the green belt were also said to be necessary for the same reason.
“The one thing we need more of is affordable homes," he said.
"There are none on this developmnent It’s an absolute shame. If you are going to build anything it needs to have affordable homes for people.”
He added that building on the green belt would ‘wipe out’ wildlife including birds of prey, deer, hares and rabbits.
“If the viability of landscape is such that it needs six bungalows to be built, then I question the whole development,” he said.
“Frankly encroaching into the green belt is wrong.”
Councillors including Coun Irene Davidson and John Taylor echoed Mr Baker’s concerns over the safety of the Wildhouse Lane/Kiln Lane junction - with the latter suggesting bollards to prevent overtaking.
Further road safety improvements to Wildhouse Lane are now to be explored by the Traffic Management Unit and Pennine Township councillors.
Coun Davidson and fellow Milnrow and Newhey ward councillor Andy Kelly also objected to the developer’s £104k contribution for sports provision being allocated to neighbouring Firgrove.
It was agreed that Pennine councillors would decide on how to use the money in the near future.
Despite the concerns, the committee ultimately voted in favour of the development.
Coun Phil Burke moved a motion to grant planning permission for the scheme.
He said: “It’s a golden opportunity here, that I don’t think we can afford to miss given the chance. We should be welcoming them into the borough with open arms.”
It was seconded by Coun Taylor, who said he supported the development ‘on balance’.
He added: “This looks like a high quality site. It deals with what is effectively becoming a bit of an eyesore with the old soccer village. It turns it into an attractive estate, it provides houses that are much needed, so, yes, it gets my support.”
The proposal was passed by a majority vote.
