PLANS to turn employment land that has been empty for 85 years into housing have been rejected – even though the area was described as ‘a waste of space.’
Bridgewater Land and Developments, acting for Jigsaw Homes which would have managed it, wanted to construct 36 one-bedroomed affordable apartments on Egmont Street, close to Bury Street and Stanhope Street.
But even though Mossley Councillor Jack Homer spoke in support of the application, it was turned down by Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee on Wednesday, July 23.
Concerns over the loss of employment land, the proximity of neighbouring industrial units and the impact they would have on those who would live there saw it thrown out.
However, Cllr Homer told the panel: “In the past, we’ve opposed housing development in Mossley for many reasons.
“But this application is providing affordable housing, it is a derelict site and putting it to good use. No-one likes to admit it, but we do need more housing.
“The main issue for refusal is the loss of employment land. I’d agree with that normally and if someone came forward and said, ‘We want to turn this into a factory or something that will bring jobs to Mossley residents,’ I’d have been all over it.
“But no-one has. It was last used in 1940 0 the site has been derelict since. It is not providing beneficial use to anyone in the area.
“There’s no reason to keep it like this in the hope someone will come forward. It’s wrong to keep a site like this just left to rot.
“It’s a waste. It’s a waste of space.”
Alastair Sheehan, speaking on behalf of the applicant, added: “This site in question has previously won an allocation of brownfield funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
“The mill was dropped in 1940. It’s been used by a couple of traders since for parking purposes. Apart from that, it’s had no use and has been openly available.
“We have support from Mossley Town Council and from residents for what is a very valuable resource in affordable housing.
“The Town Council, which is concerned about the nature and amount of development in Mossley, is in full support of the re-use of this site.”
Despite those pleas, Tameside Council planning officers insisted they have ‘significant concerns regarding the proposal’ and that marketing had been done, with ‘a minimum of seven were clearly for employment related purposes.’
They added: “Firstly, the application provides insufficient justification for the loss of the established employment site.
“Insufficient evidence is demonstrated that there’s no demand for the premises or that it’s unviable to retain it for employment purposes.
“The close proximity of adjacent industrial units, including general industrial uses, would rase significant concern. This would result in a poor standard of living for residents.
“There is a strong likelihood that noise disturbance and ither complaints would occur from future residents, potentially impacting those businesses’ ability to operate how they currently do or increase their capacity.
“They may the end up being subjected to unreasonable restrictions.”
After hearing refusal of development of an adjacent site in 2018 for similar reasons was appealed and dismissed, councillors voted unanimously to refuse planning permission.