Controversial Stalybridge Green Belt development awaits determination
Tameside Council will decide on Wednesday whether to grant permission to Casey Group for the transformation of a former power station into a 31-acre park and 162 homes.
Casey Group has been working to develop this site since acquiring the land in 1989.
The recommendation is for approval, but the secretary of state will have the final decision due to the site’s Green Belt designation.
Plans were drawn up by landscape architect Urban Green and MPSL, which designed the properties.
The development would constitute a mix of two- to five-bedroom houses; 32 houses will have two beds, 75 will have three beds, and 47 will be four-bedroom homes, leaving 8 five-bed properties.
The potential gross development value of the scheme could reach up to £50m according to a viability statement submitted with the application.
As part of a four-zone proposal, 11 acres of the total 72-acre site are to be earmarked for housing.
A large park with ponds, picnic areas, cycleways, and footpaths will take up 31 acres.
The former Hartshead Power Station, demolished in 1989, will become an 11-acre protected area, with a specific emphasis on fostering biodiversity.
Although closed to the public, it will be used for occasional educational trips, according to the plans.
Members of the public have expressed discontent with the plans, with 555 objectors stating the need for affordable housing, as well as protecting green spaces.
The application, made by NJL Consulting on behalf of Casey Group does not include any affordable homes in its plans.
The viability statement was compiled by Roger Hannah, and stated that if the project was policy compliant with the 25% affordable homes policy, it would be unviable.
Sutcliffe is the flood risk and drainage consultant and SLHA is providing heritage expertise.
Eddisons is the transport consultant. E3P is the geo-environmental expert.
Briary Energy is the energy consultant, and Lexington is leading community engagement and public affairs.
Those who wish to track the application can search on Tameside Council’s planning portal with the reference number 21/00987/FUL.
Affordable housing is the main priority.
By Eric DAWSON
It is proven that we all need more tree’s to combat the pollution created by us, then why do tameside council think it’s acceptable to destroy mature woodland just to build yet more house’s, there are so many other site’s that could be built on which wouldn’t have such a massive impact on such a small village. We don’t need Caz, we need tree’s. The road’s in this area are already congested, Grove road and springbank can not cope with more traffic, Springbank is only wide enough for single traffic and cannot be easily widened because of the railway bridge We have no dentists with spaces, an appointment to see a G.P can take week’s, the local schools are full.. need I go on. This development will cause real misery to the people who live here and will have a totally negative effect in so many ways
By Mrs Rogers
Yes it is long overdue to develop this former industrial site and the number of houses that could be built on the site will help to assist TMBC to reach the Government’s target for the huge UK house building targets but will these be for private houses only ?
By Paul griffiths
There’s no adequate infrastructure, to support this development, it’s just for personal profit. It’s not progressive only regressive, for the natural environment and species within. It’s just nonsensical greed 😔
By Anonymous
The worst run council in England will undoubtedly go for this, all they are bothered about is te extra income from council tax, no matter that Stalybridge dislike a car park most days, pathetic transport links, worst death rate in the North West etc etc, but onto add 162 houses, none of which are classed as affordable, and on green belt land, you should hang your heads in shame.
By Alan Smith
More green belt land to disappear
Just so the Labour Council can gather more Council tax in to spend willy nilly
By Anonymous
Protection of grrenbelt is paramount, developerd can build on brown field sites first there are many especially in aston under lyne . The roads around stalybridge cannot sustain more traffic , just look at rush hour already !!
By Anonymous
What a disaster this will be for the following reasons.
Roads already grid locked at peak times.
Where are the children going to school.
Will there be a doctor surgery on the area to take care of around 300 humans
Gas , electricity, water and sewage where is it coming from and where will it go.
Come on TMBC get a grip.
By Dave Walton
Leave us some green countryside, all been swallowed up by development
By N.Quirk
This country as an whole is vastly over populated,
So suddenly these local councils are now giving consent to swallow up green belt areas to build on,
But if you were to be lucky enough to in one of these such areas try getting planning permission from this poorly run council
to extend your own property,
Believe me save your money in having plans drawn up because they will spend months and months before denying permission.
Hang your heads in shame tmbc.
By Anonymous
This site is described in the article as the location of a former power station which was closed some forty years ago. It is classic brownfield and – surpise surprise the power station area itself is to be an amenity area which avoids the costs of decontamination. The tree described are natural scrub woodland on the old coal sidings area and proper planned and managed woodland in the proposed development will be a far better prospect. Than goodness that forty years of dereliction looks to be coming to an end
By Anonymous