Approval granted for 55 houses on Langley's Bonscale Park

Approval for 55 houses to be built off Bonscale Crescent and Rothay Drive in Langley has been granted by Rochdale Borough Council (8 April), despite a 100-strong petition against the plans.

The proposals bring a former clearance site back into use (Rothay Drive), delivering 55 homes, primarily semi-detached, with a few terraced and detached, as well as a playground for younger children.

The proposals are for family housing with a mixture of two-, three- and four-bedrooms, with two parking spaces for each dwelling.

Opposing the plans on behalf of local residents and the Save Bonscale Park Group was Joan Aspinall, herself a local resident and a member of Save Bonscale Park.

Ms Aspinall said: “We are objecting because this is a protected, recreational open space. Rothay Drive has been redeveloped but the park hasn’t. There was no notice on the park entrance [of the plans].

“This would have advised people walking past of the development of the development and how to object. They have not had that notification.

"We have spoken to a hundred residents on Bonscale Crescent- all signed the petition opposing the development, a protected recreational open space.”

Ms Aspinall pointed out that the space has been protected for over 70 years, whilst she also highlighted further concerns of traffic, impact on air quality, loss of greenspaces. She said that there are no other green spaces nearby, the nearest being Hopwood Park, or Bowlee, noting that Bonscale allows “children of a young age can play safely in their own community with their own family nearby.”

 

 

Councillor Irene Davidson said she ‘could not support the application’ as there is little green space in Langley.

She said: “I really have got genuine concerns on this one.

"People who live on Langley estate deserve good housing, a good landlord, good neighbours but they also deserve a bit of green space.

"I have family who live up that area and it's nothing but a building site. There is hardly any green space left at all.

"As Joan has said, to get to green space a lot of young people have to travel.

"That worries me and it worries me that how protected is our green space because if someone can come along and put an application in on our open green space what chance has the rest of Rochdale borough got? I'm sorry - I cannot support this one."

Conversely, Councillor Sameena Zaheer supported the application, mentioning the 7,000 people on the social housing waiting list for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing: "I don't understand refusing this bid - you all know there are about 7,000 people on a waiting list for RBH.

"This is not a greenbelt and it's providing a suitable children's play area and green space. It’s going to provide suitable housing for people who are struggling and might be looking for a house instead of an open space.

"We really need to think about all those people who may be waiting for several years for suitable accommodation.”

Councillors Davidson and Peter Winkler voted against approving the application. Ward councillor Phil Burke abstained, whilst other ward councillor Susan Emmott voted in favour of the application.

A further abstain came from Councillor Shakil Ahmed, and the remaining councillors supported the plans.

Planning was granted subject to conditions and subject to the completion of a S106/S111 legal agreement, including:

• A financial contribution of £104,000 towards Outdoor Sports Provision for Middleton Gymnastics Club or / and Bowlee Community Park Football Pitches
• Financial contributions of £176,243.92 towards Primary education and £88,121.93 towards Secondary education
• A financial contribution of £20,000 towards off-site highway improvements
• A financial contribution of £10,000 towards enhanced cycling and walking routes
• The provision and future maintenance of recreational open space within the site, in accordance with the council’s policies.