Huge new affordable housing development in Castleton tabled

Eastern view of Trub Farm land in Rochdale, next to the canal

Farmland next to Rochdale Canal in Castleton could soon become home to huge new housing development.

On the land known as Trub Farm off Manchester Road, a proposal has been tabled for 162 new homes. MCI Developments wants to take a stretch of land bordered by the canal and transform it into a residential space.

The homes would all have private gardens and surround public open space as well as a children’s play park, if plans are approved.

The applicant stated that the homes would all be available at an affordable rate (up to 80 per cent of market value).

The 24 two-bedroom homes will be apartments in addition to another 24 three-bedroom apartments. The remainder will be provided as family-sized homes as a mixture of detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses with three, four and five bedrooms.

All the homes would have access to off-street parking and cycle storage, plans confirmed.

The site is bordered on one side by Rochdale Canal and on the other by the railway line, close to the houses built on the former Whipp & Bourne site in Castleton.

Access to the site would come from Trub Road, via a bridge and walkway over the canal to allow pedestrians to join the existing connection onto the canal footpath. There is also a proposed stairway to the north of the site, leading up to the canal, which will allow easy connections to Castleton.

“The proposed scheme Trub Farm will be developed to provide a beautiful, well-designed neighbourhood for residents,” planning papers read. “The scope and nature of the suggestions will guarantee that the plan will benefit and improve the neighbourhood and surroundings.

“The development is placed in context with the surrounding region by carefully considering the structure, massing, streetscape, landscaping, and materials, resulting in an appealing, distinctive, and aspirational plan.”

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter