Plans to build on land surrounding Dean Farm

Dean Farm housing plan

An application to build around 70 residential units on land surrounding Dean Farm is expected to be submitted to Rochdale Council within the next month.

Nexus Planning, a Manchester based company, is currently working on behalf of the landowner, Lend Lease, drawing up a planning application.

Justin Cove, from Nexus, said: “We are at the early stages of preparing the proposal but are hoping to have a planning application submitted within the next month.”

The development would be built on land surrounding Dean Farm, adjacent to Gilbrook Way. As well as the 70 residential lettings, it is understood that the development would include infrastructure and landscaping works.

The 70 dwellings would be a mixture of affordable homes for first time buyers or older people and key workers (such as teachers, nurses and paramedics) as well as family homes ranging in size and choice.

184 letters were sent out to residents in the surrounding area almost two weeks ago to help the company gather feedback about the proposed development.

Justin added: “It is always helpful to send out letters because it helps us see what people think about the development and see what they want from something like this. It can also help us become aware of any local issues that we may need to know about that we may not have known about beforehand.”

The company is already receiving a “steady flow of responses”.

Despite Nexus Planning having a positive outlook regarding the project, some residents are not happy.

Neil Longsden, from RTA Investigations and a member of the Broad Lane Action Group, said: “This takes up the last piece of green fields left adjacent to the M62 after the Broad Lane developments.

“If this application is successful it would mean a motorist travelling along the eastbound carriageway of the M62 would see nothing but houses and warehouses between Oldham Road, Rochdale, and junction 21 at Milnrow. What a pitiful thought.

“Less than 10 years ago we had green fields running for miles alongside the motorway. Now we have nothing but houses and the shiny silver warehouses at the Kingsway Business Park.”

Rochdale Council confirmed that a planning application has not yet been submitted.