Developer reveals controversial plans for huge 1,500 home estate

A developer has revealed controversial plans to build a huge 1,500-home estate on green belt land in Rochdale.

Redrow Homes has submitted papers outlining major proposals for a 220-acre site at Thornham, on the southern edge of the town, near the M62.

The plot is bordered to the west by Manchester Road/Chesham Avenue/Chatburn Avenue, to the north by the M62, to the east by the A627(M), and to the south by the A627(M) arm to Stakehill. It includes the site of the All-in-One Garden Centre and forms part of the wider Stakehill site included in Places for Everyone – the region’s emerging long term development plan, which is currently undergoing public examination.
 

Read more: Campaigners prepare to fight controversial plans for 165,000 homes at public hearingsPublished: 25 August 2022

While not yet ready to lodge a planning application, Redrow is seeking council advice about a scheme it is preparing for submission in the near future.

The document – known as a ‘scoping report’ – says the firm is readying a ‘hybrid planning application’ for the proposed development of 1,500 homes.

This includes detailed proposals for a first phase of 300 properties and outline plans for the remaining 1,200. Vehicles would mainly enter the site via Manchester Road, but some homes would be accessed from Thornham New Road.

The report says the estate would include new ‘green infrastructure’ that will ‘contribute to the health and wellbeing of future residents’.

It adds: “Children’s play areas will be provided as part of the green infrastructure proposals, as well as recreating and play spaces for a range of ages.

“Indicative plans show that green corridors will connect the proposed development to the existing settlement and wider countryside, provide cycle and walking connections – including incorporating existing Public Rights of Way and a network of open spaces.”

When submitted the planning application will include assessments of the development’s impact on views and the landscape as well as on wildlife and ‘cultural heritage’.

 

 

But the scoping report says that there will be no high rise buildings and ‘the scale and massing of the proposed development will not cause changes to daylight or sunlight availability or cause overshadowing of residents amenity space’.

Neither is it anticipated that it will produce an amount of waste that will ‘give rise to significant effects on the environment’.

The report also claims the project will bring economic benefits to the area during the construction phase.

It reads: “The proposed development will provide housing and construction opportunities. It is expected that the construction employment would be taken up by the existing local population and would not lead to new residents moving into the area for employment.”
 

Read more: Fury over housing plans that ‘threaten the whole identity’ of BamfordPublished: 01 September 2022

Examination of the Places for Everyone plan began earlier this month, with inspectors looking into proposals to build 165,000 homes across Greater Manchester over the next 15 years.

It has been redrafted several times following a public backlash over the proposed loss of green belt land.

The final document, submitted to the government in February, is due to be scrutinised over the course of the next five months.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter