Littleborough Civic Trust responds to proposed housing development

Proposed housing on former AKZO site at Hollingworth Lake, Hollingworth Road, Littleborough

Littleborough Civic Trust (LCT) has for some considerable time attempted to contact Homes England (aka) Homes and Communities Agency; the Government agency responsible for advancing available housing in England.

Ian Jackson, Chairman, Littleborough Civic Trust said: “In May of last year LCT met with Homes England and provided information regarding the former AKZO site which they purchased for £10m in 2017, as local interest had developed; especially regarding Littleborough’s infrastructure, given its limited capacity for expansion.

“At the time, a development of 174 houses were proposed.

“In addition to the above, the recently published and long-awaited Greater Manchester Spatial Framework document now shows land to the north of Smithybridge (Policy GM Allocation 26), allocated for housing, which includes building on the car park at the top of Hollingworth Road.

“Essentially, the AKZO site and the fields adjoining, right up to Lake Bank. The document is publicly available online and a consultation period has commenced and will run for eight weeks.

“If all the proposed housing was to be built, Littleborough will become log-jammed; Hollingworth Lake would be difficult for tourists to visit and the new houses would sit precariously on top of extensive abandoned clay and coal mine workings. These are known to be flooded.

“LCT has proof of these from dealing with the Coal Authority and has shown numerous maps and documents to Homes England, but since the meeting with them in 2018, they have resisted all attempts to contact them.

“Now, given the potential to carve up Littleborough, pressure should be put on Rochdale Council and Homes England.”

Rochdale Council are holding a drop-in session at Hare Hill House 3.00pm – 8.00pm on Thursday 7 February.

Anyone wishing to obtain further information can attend Littleborough Civic Trust’s monthly meetings, held on the second Tuesday of each month at Hare Hill House.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/sites/littleborough-civic-trust