A CONTROVERSIAL plan to ‘overdevelop’ the site of a former Denton hotel by building 24 apartments has been dropped.
Haughton Green saw huge opposition to Irwell Valley Homes and Collaborate Living’s joint proposal to construct the affordable properties where The Old Rectory once stood on Meadow Lane.
Now that threat has gone after the housing firm withdrew its application, the pressure is now on the landowner to smarten it up.
The applicants contended their proposal represented ‘a high-quality development which will complement and contribute successfully to its wider setting.’
But opponents, including ward councillors and MP Andrew Gwynne, appear to have won the battle.
Now they want the landowner to make sure the area is well kept after it became a ‘horrible eyesore.’
In a statement, Cllrs Claire Reid, Jack Naylor and George Newton said: “The residents fought tirelessly against this and it shows that when you work together you get results.
“It’s a shame that the current owner of the land was allowed to knock it down in the first place and to let the grounds grow wildly with no maintenance or proper groundskeeping and turning the gate and entrance into a horrible eyesore.
“Hopefully this can be rectified, and the landowner taken to task.”
The plan claimed it would ‘reinforce the existing ‘sense of place’, adding further identity as an extension of the neighbouring housing area.’
But those against believed the opposite, saying: “Haughton Green is a special place. Meadow Lane is the jewel in the crown of Haughton Dale.
“We accept there is a clear need for additional affordable housing. However, these must be the right kinds and scale of developments in order to make sure our communities are sustainable.
“The application is quite simply at odds with the planning policies governing Tameside and Haughton Green.
“It seeks to undermine the very special nature of the Haughton Green and Haughton Dale area through overdevelopment, loss of trees, increased traffic flow, and a lack of consideration for local characteristics.
“We can and must do better for the all the residents of Haughton Green, including those who may eventually live in properties on the Old Rectory site.
“We must not overdevelop a very special area and undermine the existence and growth of a sustainable community.”
Even though they appear to have won the fight to stop the area being overdeveloped, the concept of housing on The Old Rectory site, which saw the building mostly demolished in 2011, is not out of the question.
The political opponents to this scheme added: “It is the case that the construction of a smaller number of individual dwellings on the Old Rectory site as opposed to an apartment block would be a far more sensitive use of the land when considering the topography of Meadow Lane.
“This would provide much needed additional housing in Haughton Green but would also respect the special characteristics of the area.
“We are fully sympathetic to the need for affordable housing and indeed welcome it to ensure future generations are afforded the same opportunities we have all had.”