New campaign group formed to Save Crimble Mill Green Belt

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A new group dedicated to saving local greenbelt land has formed, Save Crimble Mill Green Belt, following a proposal put forward in December to build in excess of 200 houses on the site.

Save Crimble Mill Green Belt was formed in late January by Iain Brown and other Heywood residents in response to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework development. Crimble Mill has been included in the latest draft of the Framework, replacing a previous proposal to build at Lane End, Heywood,  which was in the first draft of the controversial Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

Mr Brown said: “Some of the other groups have had two years to fight for the greenbelt, but Crimble Mill was only recently added in the second draft. We are hoping to formulate constructive objectives and set out how we can fight building on our greenbelt.

“That said, the mill is in a bad state. It needs investment but not at the cost of our greenbelt.

“We want Heywood residents to access this information and know what the plans are and urge people to attend the drop-in meetings to have your say before our greenbelt is taken away.”

A former cotton mill, Crimble Mill has been listed on the national Heritage at Risk Register since 2005 and is defined as a building at immediate risk of further rapid deterioration.

A planning application for the site is yet to be made, and will provide scheme plans, a Design and Access Statement and a Planning Statement, although a formal scoping opinion has been requested from Rochdale Borough Council by developers.

A scoping opinion is not a planning application: it consists of matters – provided by the local authority and consultation bodies – important to consider in the environmental impact assessment.

If a formal scoping opinion is requested, the local planning authority must consult the statutory consultees and the applicant before providing a scoping opinion within five weeks (or longer, if agreed in writing with applicant).

There is no requirement for an applicant to consult in the preparation of the environmental statement, and there is no right to seek a formal scoping opinion once a planning application has been submitted.

To date, 183 objections to the scoping opinion have been received.

The supporting report outlines proposals to partly demolish, renovate and convert the Grade-II* listed mill (full planning permission and listed building consent) in order to build up to 250 houses on the 22-hectares of land, (outline planning permission).

These proposals – estimated to take up to five years to build – will also include enhanced recreational open space, public transport and new school places at All Souls CE Primary School, and new green belt around Queen’s Park.

A ‘radical rewrite’ of the spatial framework also suggests designating land at the adjacent Queen’s Park as ‘new’ greenbelt land – branded as ‘ridiculous’ by Conservative councillor, Pat Sullivan.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/125461/guide-to-the-nine-new-green-belt-sites-included-in-revised-masterplan

The GMSF is now out for consultation until 18 March. To find out more about the proposals for Rochdale and to access the consultation, visit: rochdale.gov.uk/spatialframework

Residents can also access the consultation in libraries across the borough and drop in sessions will also be taking place at the following locations:

• Rochdale: Monday, 4 February 2019, 4pm-7pm at Rochdale Town Hall
• Heywood: Tuesday, 5 February 2019, 4pm-7pm at Phoenix Centre
• Littleborough: Thursday, 7 February 2019, 4pm-7pm at Hare Hill House
• Middleton: Monday, 11 February 2019, 4pm-7pm at Middleton Arena
• Milnrow: Thursday, 14 February 2019, 4pm-7pm at Milnrow Cricket Club

Additional reporting: Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter