Akzo Nobel development plans submitted

Derelict land at the former Akzo Nobel site

Following a public consultation last month, Woodford Land, owners of the former Akzo Nobel chemical site on Hollingworth Road, Littleborough have submitted a final planning application to develop 164 houses, a restaurant and hotel, a public house and business units on the site, which will be remediated as part of the plans.

The application will now undergo a consultation period until 10 August, although this could be extended.

The land on Hollingworth Road has been vacant since Akzo Nobel ceased operations in September 2004 and the site has become derelict.

Remediation and development company Woodford Land purchased the land in December 2006 and as expected they have submitted a planning application to Rochdale Council in order that they can begin the housing development in 2009.

The development of the Akzo Nobel site has been controversial with concerns consistently raised over contamination and the location of mine shafts.

In 2005 Belway Homes submitted plans to develop 280 homes on the site but these were withdrawn when members of the public responded with fears of contamination and the pressure that the development would put on Littleborough as a town.

The planning application offers details of how the developers hope to deal with any possible contamination and keep traffic issues to a minimum.

Chemicals buried at the site will be sealed by a layer of crushed stone, whilst polluted water from capped mine shafts will be combatted by a wetland reserve, plans for which were given the all clear earlier this month.

Residents will be encouraged as much as possible to use public transport to minimise the amount of traffic in what is already a busy area.