Gilbrook Way Action Group ask for Dean Farm planning application to be reviewed

Members of the Gilbrook Way Action Group have asked Rochdale Council to review the planning application for Dean Farm.

Following news that a decision to grant planning permission for a development at Rakewood Lower Mill was unlawful, campaigners looking to stop the Dean Farm development have written to the council pointing out similarities between the two sites.

Campaigners against the site have pointed out nine separate reasons as to why the application should not go ahead. These include the land being protected, no primary school places and traffic congestion.

At a meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee in late January, councillors were criticised by those in attendance for the way the decision to grant the outline planning permission was made.

During the meeting, a number of reasons as to why the application should not go ahead were rejected. These included lack of school places, flooding issues and the likelihood of a bat colony on the proposed land.

The group now believe that based on the points they have raised with the Council, the application to build houses at Dean Farm should be reviewed because “Ms Coley [Council Planning Officer] did not freely, fully and impartially advise the councillors of existing issues surrounding the site and rejected out of hand issues raised by councillors and objectors.”

A spokesman for Rochdale Council, said: “The council has an application before it which the committee granted, having taken account of all representations. The council is aware of several related complaints and these are currently being investigated. The complainants will be made aware of the outcome of this investigation in due course. No decision has as yet been issued.”

http://rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/93879/plans-forhomes-at-dean-farm-approved-despite-objections-from-local-residents