A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to build 440 homes in Hyde has been given outline planning permission.
But concerns over the impact the proposal around Apethorn Lane and Bowlacre Road would have, especially if Godley Green Garden Village is built, remain.
The 15th-century, grade II*-listed Apethorn Farmhouse would be restored, then converted into four properties, as part of Sintra Property Developments’ proposal. This element of which Historic England supports.
And a meeting of Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee on Wednesday, June 24 heard almost £6 million will go towards schools, sports pitches and road improvements in the area.
However, opponents’ concerns as worries over areas of ancient woodland and sites of special biological interest (SBI) – Pole Bank Wood and Bowlacre Clough – were heard loudly, as 358 objections have been lodged.
Hyde Werneth Councillor Phil Chadwick – in whose ward the two sites, which straddle the main Stockport Road and were removed from the green belt by the Places for Everyone document, stand – told how he believes a report is not ‘open and transparent in my view.’
While also claiming part of the supporting evidence shows surface water running uphill, he said: “The technical evidence has always strengthened the concerns I’ve raised.
“Can the panel be assured that ancient woodland will not be harmed? The ecological assessment does not consider the combined impact of this scheme alongside Godley Green Garden Village.
“Housing around the farmhouse will suburbanise it permanently. This is not a small infill site, it is a sensitive landscape with ancient woodland, steep topography and multiple water courses.”
Fellow objectors Dave Morten and Andrew Walton told of their fears over drainage and the prospect of flooding existing homes.
Mr Walton said: “Residents have been asked to accept the loss of green belt land on the basis of need. That need has never been properly evidenced in a way the public can scrutinise.
“Publish the evidence showing brownfield capacity, town centre regeneration and other urban sites were genuinely exhausted before green belt was selected.
“Residents are told the process has been followed. Process is not proof, process is not justification and process does not replace evidence.
“If this evidence exists, publish it.”
Mr Morten added: “There are two major drains that I am aware of, one continuously draining overflow water from spring fed wells.
“We are really concerned that there is a potential for flooding of our properties during the construction phase of this development.”
Stockport Council, which the site borders, has objected to the plan over the impact on traffic and supposed mitigation against extra traffic this would create was questioned by panel member Cllr Doreen Dickinson.
If the scheme gets the full go ahead, as the outline permission will be followed by detailed reserved matters applications, no work can start until the farmhouse – which has stood empty since the 1960s and was hit by fire in 1993 – is restored, along with the hay barn and tractor barn.
Pear Tree Farm would be demolished and further deadlines would also be added and 15 per cent, 66 properties, would be classed as affordable housing.
If granted, almost £2.4 million would be paid towards education – £429,450 towards primary, £1,715,747 towards secondary education and £245,400 towards improvements to SEND.
£1 million would go towards public open space enhancements, including Apethorn Wood, Haughton Dale Nature Reserve and the Trans Pennine Trail,
£1.3 million would be given for enhancing the quality and capacity of sports pitches and £461,529 towards health facilities.
£545,000 would go towards Active Travel improvements to Stockport Road and its surrounding streets to enhance walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure, while £180,000 would be allocated to walking and cycling links to Dowson Primary Academy, Woodley railway station and Gee Cross village centre.
Just £85,000, however, would go towards the traffic measures at the junction of A560 Hyde Road and A627 George Lane.
And Richard Barton, the applicants’ agent, told the hearing, which was told the development would contain three play areas: “It’s an allocation which stands out as an excellent example of good strategic planning as it’s capable of having so many benefits.
“The farmhouse is of great historic significance locally and our plan is to see it brought back to its former glory, utilised as four unique family homes.
“There is, however, much more in this development beyond the farmhouse restoration.
“This is a scheme which very much washes its own face and we’re confident it will stand out as an example of how to do things right.”
Councillors, however, questioned many claims, including the formula used to work out how many extra trips on the road the development, which will be accessed from two new junctions with Stockport Road, would generate.
Making sure the ancient woodland areas and a mature ash tree receive extra protection were also highlighted.
And Longdendale’s Cllr Allan Hopwood said: “I’m quite concerned how you could restore the farmhouse to what it was but then divide it up into separate properties.
“It just strikes me as a bit odd that all these improvements, as they were, have been made to it, but then it’s sort of being sold s having been restored back to its former glory, when it will be a shadow of its former self.
“I do have a certain amount of concern about that.”
But Mr Barton believes the development could boost Tameside as a whole, adding: “I live locally, I live in Ashton, and a lot of professional people move to areas like south Manchester.
“But I think this gives Tameside the best chance of retaining good people.”
Planning permission, the larger scheme is outline but the farmhouse restoration full, was granted after a five-four vote, with Conservative Cllr Dickinson and Reform UK’s Cllrs Hopwood, Gary Roylance and Jake Frater being against.