Tameside approves 162 controversial homes on Green Belt
Yesterday, Tameside’s planning committee passed the application – developer Casey Group will now have to wait on secretary of state Angela Rayner to decide if she wants to call it in.
Tameside Council’s decision was made by four votes to two, the result was in line with planning officer’s recommendation. Confirmation from the government is expected in around 21 days.
The decision is subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement.
The Stalybridge site spans 72 acres and sits on a mix of brownfield land and designated Green Belt.
Hartshead Power Station previously stood there before it was demolished in 1989.
Some 31 acres of the land will be reserved for remediation: the former Millbrook Sidings site is to become a public park with footpaths, cycleways, and picnic areas.
On the eastern edge of the site, approximately 11 acres of land will be redeveloped for 162 homes.
A wide mix of two- to five-bedroom houses will be built.
On the former power station’s site, 11 acres will be preserved to form an ecology enhancement zone that expects to have enough biodiversity to attract schools to visit on educational trips.
Green Belt designation is not the only hurdle the application has faced – there were 555 objectors to the plans.
The application, made by NJL Consulting on behalf of Casey Group, does not include any affordable homes.
Roger Hannah complied the viability statement and identified that if the project was compliant with the 25% affordable homes policy, it would be unviable.
The potential gross development value of the scheme could reach up to £50m, Roger Hannah said.
As part of a four-zone proposal, 11 acres of the total 72-acre site are to be earmarked for housing. Credit: MPSL and Urban Green
Rachel White, director at NJL Consulting, said the decision was a “testament to Casey’s patience”.
She added: “After three years of negotiation with key stakeholders, this committee decision marks a significant milestone in the aspirations to redevelop the former power station.
“This scheme will deliver a huge wealth of public benefit as well as significant housing delivery for the borough of Tameside. It’s exciting to see the national aspirations for growth play out in the [Greater Manchester] area and we’re looking forward to seeing this highly sustainable site utilised and the benefits realised.”
Neil Pickering, development director at Casey, said: “We are grateful for Tameside’s support for the application, which will finally transform the former power station and Millbrook Sidings some 40 years after they were decommissioned.
“This will address the legacy of crumbling infrastructure, large tract of derelict land and ongoing management issues to create safe and attractive outdoor spaces in a woodland setting.”
Pickering noted that dedicated spaces for play and ecological renewal will improve the local environment.
He continued: “Casey has been committed to delivering this and the much needed new homes for many years and we are very excited to now move these plans forward.”
The application can be accessed on Tameside Council’s planning portal with the reference number 21/00987/FUL.
No mention of more traffic on huddersfield rd already congested at peak times the four who voted for obviously don’t have to try and cross are use huddersfield rd
By Paddy
All the Mills in tameside area that are Empty, I’m not being used could be knocked down and houses belt there.But no , they want to build on the green belt
By Simon Cox
Big decision for Rayner does she call in a housing project in her own constituency.
By allergic to squirrels
I doubt the houses are controversial – maybe the decision is?
By Anonymous
Seems sensible and for once a well considered scheme.
By Dan
Not as scandalous as building on the green field, never had a building on it, at the side of Mossley Hollins school. For the planners to approve this, is an absolute betrayal and shows they have zero respect for the area. Families who have lived in Mossley for generations WILL loose out on school places to new house buyers moving in to these adjacent developments, disgraceful, and the already massively over stretched medical centres, well, say no more on that. Oh yeah, what a great idea, moving people out as far on the periphery of an area to further conjest the roads with commuter traffic. These people making the decisions haven’t got a brain cell to share between them.
By Anonymous
Council homes are needed now more than ever and someone who’s in the right frame of mind will over look the houses being built on the green belt. It’s a reasonable sacrifice to lower the overpopulated situation we’re in at the moment.
By Anonymous
Ooh all those homes, any schools or doctors’ surgeries? Didn’t think so.
By Theresa
If the development is well designed and planned with plenty of trees planted and the houses are not crammed too close together the site should blend in with the surrounding countryside.Like all new houses built to comply with current building standards they will be very expensive to construct with high spec insulation and heat pumps etc.
By Paul griffiths
Some people are criticising Stockport for opting out of the GMSF due to the disproportionate encroachment on its Green Belt; it seems that Tameside by remaining in the GMSF (now PfE) is being hit even harder.
It will be interesting to follow the different fortunes of a council entirely controlled by Labour (Tameside) with one where they can never be anything other than a minority (Stockport).
By AltPoV
Most rejections to this planned site have involved mention of the infrastructure and lack of it, I have lived in Stalybridge for 25 years now and cannot get a doctors appointment, have on the last few times of trying have been told to go to the ‘walk in’ at Tameside Hospital and the last time sat waiting for 11 hours. Our dentist is now in Haughton Green because there are no dentists available without going ‘private’ which is unaffordable. The schools don’t have enough places as it is and this is before all the new houses are built. The roads – Huddersfield/ Wakefield Rd’ s are a nightmare and grid locked at busy times – god knows what it is going to be like after the new sites in and around the area are built. It is a disgrace and Tameside Council or Casey’s are not interested in any of the above – are any of the houses going to be affordable to the average person, probably not! The woods are full of wildlife and should be left alone, I walk my dog regularly in them and love watching the wildlife thrive
By Anonymous
The infrastructure in the area is already horrific, as others have mentioned. Traffic on Huddersfield Road is awful, you can’t get a doctor’s appointment for love nor money and Tameside Hospital takes about 10-12 hours to get seen. Making it worse is definitely what every local resident wants. Not to mention losing remaining structures and points of interest from the old Micklehurst loop line. Nice one Casey and Planners.
By Nick