Residents face wait on chemical works site

Following the collapse of Woodford Group, who went into administration last year, Littleborough residents face a wait to find out what is to happen with the former Akzo Nobel site.

Woodford Group PLC purchased the site from Akzo Nobel for £9,625,000. Remedial work was undertaken on the site in preparation for the construction of housing, despite local objections, the site being an old coal mine with shafts, an oil refinery and chemical site.

Littleborough groups are now waiting for someone to submit a full planning application and will then take a view as to whether it is something they can support or whether they must oppose it.

Littleborough resident and Rochdale Online director, John Kay, said: "I feel that it would be suited for a canal side Country Park Hotel with a fitness centre and swimming pool and plenty of car parking."

It is understood that any purchaser would have to comply with the outstanding conditions on the outline planning consent, for example, treat the Japanese knot weed and the contamination.