Mossley housing plan backed by Tameside Council, despite 500 objections

TAMESIDE Council has signalled its support for plans to effectively extend a Mossley housing estate by 175 homes, despite more than 500 objections.

Land standing between the current Hey Farm area and Mossley Hollins High School would be redeveloped if a proposal is given the formal go ahead.

And before an indicative plan, showing how it would look and sit within the town, goes before the authority’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee, it has said it is minded to approve it, despite it including the Puddle Clay Pits Site of Biological Interest (SBI), which is close to the Huddersfield Canal Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The proposed development of the 13-hectare site has spared a large reaction among nearby residents and opponents, who listed many reasons why it should not be built.

Hey Farm – looking towards Mossley Hollins

People currently living on Hey Farm also compiled a detailed report stating concerns including the ‘aggressive, unwanted development’ being too big and the infrastructure of Mossley not keeping up with its growth.

They also claimed Mossley is in danger of becoming a large housing estate on the outskirts of Manchester and it is the last remaining green oasis on the side of the valley.

It is also said the extra 1,392 people the proposal would bring would represent an increase of 12.75 per cent of the population of Mossley and the neighbouring Mossley Hollins, built for 750 pupils, is now struggling with more than 900.

Concerns also state: “The land is contaminated with old industrial waste including asbestos and therefore not suitable for development.”

Mossley Town Council is also against the ‘speculative’ plan, with reasons including generic environmental and ecological surveys being used and the number of brownfield sites that can be developed in the area.

A lack of children’s play facilities and a call to see the rationale for coping with this possible influx from the providers of services were also highlighted.

Hey Farm – Layout

Mossley Town Council said: “Given the strides forward in the standards of society from the latter part of the 19th Century to now, through housing, planning, education, public health and environmental protection legislation, this level of development not only undermines the principles of this great body of work, it will mean that resources, be they financial or otherwise, allocated to these areas, will be spread much more thinly.

“This is effectively a backward step.”

However, no formal objections were submitted regarding contaminated land, nor were they from the Canal and River Trust, Natural England, United Utilities, the Environment Agency or an environmental health officer.

Greater Manchester Ecology Unit also said it believes the impact on the SSSI can be mitigated.

Acccording to documents, the new development – which would take up two thirds of the site, with the rest being ‘managed open space’ – will be accessed from a new junction on Huddersfield Road.

Complaints about the disruption the new homes would cause were countered with: “Comments have also been received from neighbours regarding the potential for disruption from construction traffic/activities.

“Some level of disruption is an inevitable consequence of development and would arise wherever new housing was delivered. As such it is difficult to sustain a reason for refusal on this basis.”

A traffic survey also claims the new development, of which 15 per cent of homes would be affordable, would produce fewer journeys than the current Hey Farm estate.

A report adds: “Subject to conditions and the detailed design of future reserved matters applications, the impacts upon the Puddle Clay Pits SBI and the Huddersfield Canal SSSI can be suitably mitigated.

“The application has also demonstrated that there would be no adverse impact upon the local highway network.

“The proposals represent an efficient reuse of a largely previously developed site that would meet sustainability requirements and contribute positively to the borough’s affordable housing supply.”

Conditions on the suggested approval include a detailed proposal being submitted within three years and, if approved, construction to start withing another two.

No work taking place until thorough examinations of the site have taken place, strategies are developed to mitigate issues and schemes providing bus stops on Huddersfield Road are also among those listed.

And a section 106 agreement, which sees developers make financial contributions towards schemes in the area, must also be completed and agreed.

Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will vote on whether to approve or refuse permission for this outline scheme.