Akzo Nobel development consultation gets underway

A Woodford Land representative talks Littleborough residents through the development plans

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Woodford Land, owners of the former Akzo Nobel chemicals site near Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough, began a three day consultation over the development of the site with local residents today, Tuesday 12 June. The consultation, at Littleborough United Reform Church on Victoria Street, will continue on Wednesday and Thursday, running from 2pm until 8pm.

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, following this consultation, they hope to submit a planning application to Rochdale Council later this summer in order that they can begin a housing development in 2009.

The company plans to create 165 homes on the land, 10% of which will be dedicated #39;affordable housing', as well as commercial and leisure facilities.

The Littleborough community have already responded to the consultation in large numbers. The small room at the United Reform Church was bustling on Tuesday afternoon as local residents listened to representatives of Woodford Land and spoke to them about their concerns over the development. Visitors to the consultation are able to submit their own comments and concerns about the development confidentially, via a ballot box.

Jenny Walkinshaw, Marketing Director at ORE UK Ltd, is acting as PR for Woodford Land and she spoke to Rochdale Online during the consultation. She said: quot;We have already had a number of comments and these have mainly been positive so far. We have talked in-depth with people and hopefully we have been able to allay any concerns. This consultation is a major part of our planning process and once we have collated the responses we have received during the consultation, we will submit our planning application; hopefully in July."