Residents submit village green application for Ponderosa

UPDATE 23 August 2023: Rochdale Borough Council has confirmed the village green application was listed 'in error and is invalid' due to the land being earmarked for development

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An application to preserve the Ponderosa in Langley, Middleton, has been submitted in an attempt to prevent any building on the site.

Plans were unveiled earlier this year to build 30 rental houses on part of the land off Borrowdale Road – known locally as ‘the Ponderosa’ – which is owned by Rochdale Borough Council.
 

Read more: ‘We just want to keep our beautiful field’: Community split over ‘affordable homes’ plan for estate’s green spacePublished: 17 April 2023

The controversial project is being driven by Big Help Langley Developments – a community interest company formed by Langley Community Benefits Society and charity The Big Help.

No planning application for the homes has been submitted as yet.

However, local residents have pushed back – and have now applied for the land to be preserved as a village green, which would prevent any development.

Objectors formed The Ponderosa Committee to push back against the plans earlier this year while Facebook group ‘Commoners Save the Ponderosa, Langley’ has around 1,200 members.

They say the land is too valuable for the community to lose, thanks to its versatility for local events, popularity for dog walkers and children, as well as being home to wildlife such as bats, deer and foxes, and the mental health benefits associated with green spaces.

A spokesperson said: “We need as many people as possible to support our application.

“We know that there is an urgent need for social housing, and we have suggested the old aerodrome site at Bowlee, where more than 10 houses can be built.

“We need as many people in favour of the application to email: property-legal@rochdale.gov.uk using reference Ref SB / ECO001/566 - Notice of an application for the registration of land as a Town or Village Green - Land lying to the South of Borrowdale Road, Langley, Middleton, Manchester which is commonly referred to as ‘the Pondersosa’.”

A legal notice has been filed online regarding the application for Village Green status with a deadline for objections of 25 August.

The application, which includes a plan of the land proposed for registration, may be inspected at Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU between the hours of 9am–4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Any person wishing to object to the registration of the land as a town or village green should send a statement of the facts on which the objection is based to:

• The Legal Team – Ref SB/ECO001/566, Rochdale Borough Council, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU
• Or property-legal@rochdale.gov.uk on or before Friday 25 August 2023.

Any representations that are to be taken into account by the Planning Inspectorate in reaching a decision on the application, cannot be treated as confidential, and will be copied to the applicant for comment, and may be disclosed to other interested parties.

Councillor Sue Smith, who is a ward councillor for West Middleton and a founder member of Langley Community Benefits Society said: "There is a need not a want for social houses. People are living in terrible conditions and to me this should be prioritised.

"Big Help Langley have submitted an application to build 30 much needed social houses that will prioritise local people, and Langley Community Benefits Society has put in a separate application to create a green space that will be accessible to all. They have both done this after consulting with the community."