A FULL plan has been lodged for a scheme that could transform land and create more than 100 jobs in Hattersley and bring it a new supermarket.
Aldi would be joined by a Costa Coffee café and drive-through as well as up to eight employment units adjacent to Stockport Road and Ashworth Lane.
179 customer car parking spaces, as well as 16 electric vehicle charging points, would also be included at the five-and-a-half acre site.
More land could also be developed in future and a health centre put in.
And Maple Grove Developments, which is behind the scheme submitted to Tameside Council, believes making use of land that has laid dormant for more than 14 years can bring benefits to the area after listening to the public at a consultation event.
Andrew Dewhurst, development director at Maple Grove, said: “The scheme has had to respond to recent economic and social trends, with a scaling back of the retail floorspace and the introduction of trade counter and employment space.
“The proposed plans include a new electric vehicle charging hub and this, along with the other amenities available, will help serve local residents and those passing by.
“Following a positive consultation period, where we listened to the residents’ views, we are pleased to now be in a position where we can submit this planning application to the council.
“With more residential schemes planned in the area, this new scheme will meet the needs of residents now and in the future.
“Subject to our application securing approval, we hope to make a start on site next Spring.”
The 57,000 sq ft development will see the land owned by Onward Homes sold to Maple Grove after they were convinced about the vision.
Those behind the scheme, who feel investment will bring the site back to productive use and it will improve the general Hattersley area, will not create a traffic bottleneck.
For access will be from Stockport Road, rather than Ashworth Lane, and a new crossing point will be included.
Sandy Livingstone, executive director of property at Onward Homes, said: “The arrival of new retail and business premises, as well as the resulting employment opportunities, will offer greater choice and more opportunities for people living and working in Hattersley.
“We are pleased to be supporting the redevelopment of this dormant site, delivering on another one of our commitments to the local community as part our 20-year regeneration of the local area.”
Longdendale councillor Jacqueline Owen, in whose ward the land lies, spoke previously of her belief it will be positive.
She said: “My personal view is it will be a benefit to the community.
“People would have more choice of where to shop than they currently have. There will be job opportunities and the companies coming in would use local people.
“They actively encourage local people to work for them.
“And in terms of the site itself, finally it looks like we may be getting on with it. I’ve discussed traffic with the developers and they will be planting, surface water drainage works, there’ll be a pond, which will encourage bio-diversity.
“For local people, it means they could get their shopping without having to spend the £4 to get on the bus to Aldi in Hyde.
“People could walk here and do it for nothing. For a long time, they’ve said, ‘We don’t have anything. We’d like a corner shop, a florist, a bakery,’ but in today’s society, that doesn’t work.”