MORE THAN 100 homes will be built on the site of a former Hyde wax printing company if plans are approved.
But those hoping to transform the area admit Tameside Council will need to show ‘flexibility’ to get it through.
Eccleston Homes, which is based in Warrington, wants to construct 130 properties on the 12-acre site at Clarendon Road and Commercial Street, which was once home to ABC Wax.
However, its own documents state how the authority would have to show some co-operation if it is to be approved, both from the council and the current landowner.
In a financial viability assessment, it says it shows ‘constraints affecting the site and that there is no scope for any affordable housing provision or other section 106 contributions from the proposed scheme.’
It adds: “It is possible for the deficit to be absorbed and for development to come forward if the developer and/or landowner were to flex their expectation of return below that which is demonstrable as a minimum acceptable level.
“The commercial decision as to whether to proceed with the scheme at risk is at the discretion of the applicant.
“The findings indicate that it will also be necessary for the local planning authority to consider flexing their policy requirements in order to support the delivery of the proposed scheme.
“The applicant is committed to delivering the proposed development at the subject site, which would regenerate a significant brownfield site and would make a clear positive contribution in meeting local housing need and in enhancing the quality of the residential offer in the locality.
“The proposals would thus bring a range of social, economic and environmental benefits.”
The area once housed several industrial buildings, the majority of which have been demolished with one large building and one smaller building remaining in the centre of the site.
Historically, it was used for bleaching and printing operations, with ABC Wax employing at its peak almost 500 people, with everything produced or designed there sold in West Africa.
The three and four-bedroomed properties are likely to invoke a payment of about £300,000 towards education because of the proposal’s size.
But documents for the applicant state: “Development of the site for residential use presents an opportunity to significantly improve the quality of the streetscape which can be viewed from Clarendon Road.
“The proposed development presents an opportunity to introduce trees and soft landscape elements along the site’s boundaries, significantly improving the visual appeal of the road.
“The proposals represent an appropriate opportunity to redevelop this site. The scale and appearance of the new development along with the associated landscaping will present a much more positive aspect to the surrounding area.
“All of this will enhance the social and physical environment of the site and wider community.”
Tameside Council’s Speakers Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse planning permission.
More smaller, affordable houses are needed for first time buyers. Not 3&4 bedroomed.
Will make the area look better but don’t understand why all these developers are now building 3 bedroomed houses instead of 2.
Smaller houses 2 beds and affordable for first time buyers kids today stand no chance of buying there own place as there all over priced Clarendon road is a nightmare at the best of times with cars and wagons racing up and down and with the extra traffic from the new houses on Clarendon Road this would just make it worse. People still won’t shop in Hyde as there is nothing in Hyde so don’t see how it would benefit Hyde also not enough doctors schools to cope with an extra 130 houses
These two replies don’t recognise that the world has changed.
When I grew up, it was normal for siblings to share bedrooms. My sister and I shared a bedroom until I went to university. Opposite us, 6 girls shared 2 bedrooms. Now, having 2 children is normal. So a family house would be expected to have 3 bedrooms, parent bedroom and one for each child. For a larger family, more children or grandparents or step children, more bedrooms are needed.
For a balanced comunity, the housing and social service provision needs to reflect the needs of the community, everything from baby nurseries, teenagers leaving home but still needing contact and support from their local family and community, all the way through to the inactive old who need a sequence of care homes.
You may not have heard of home working. It is not viable longterm to shoehorn a working office etc into a living or bed room.
There is something very wrong with builders not being able to ensure safe, workable and minimal net energy using houses that are affordable. From what I can see, builders expect extortionate profits from each development project, land and building.
There is equally something very wrong if the council does not, cannot, ensure that all these requirements are incorporated in each project. 100 houses allows for a wide range of provision.
I don’t know how much building new school places will cost, but £300,000 appears to be merely a token amount that will not cover long term modification and maintenance of the schools.
The council needs to make very clear to the current and future residents how these changing requirements will be addressed for the forseeable future.