Science park and new homes – planning roundup

A huge new science and technology facility and dozens of new homes have been given the green light in Tameside.

A huge new science and technology facility and dozens of new homes have been given the green light in Tameside.

The council’s planning committee has approved a series of applications for the borough, including a base for a geosciences company in Hattersley and apartments and houses in Droylsden and Mossley.

The new 4,700 sqm site will house soil and ground water testing laboratory firm Envirolab, part of the RSK Group, which currently operates from premises off Mottram Road in Hyde.

The expansion is envisaged to create approximately 200 jobs.

The new development, which spans two plots of land on Hattersley industrial estate, will be known as Hattersley Science and Technology Park.

Agent Kenny Dhillon told councillors: “The RSK group is a growing business which contributes to employment in the Greater Manchester region.

“The proposed development is going to be high quality.”

He added that the new development would be ‘economically sustainable’.

Currently the site is open grassland with scattered trees and bushes, and has been hit a target for flytipping.

The proposal includes the creation of a two-storey laboratory for testing and analysis of soil and water samples, as well as general storage and a light industrial workshop.

There will be 127 car spaces created, with eight disabled spaces, as well as spaces for lorries and bicycle storage.

A three-storey block of flats is to be built on the site of the recently demolished Moss Tavern public house on Ashton Road in Droylsden.

The 23 apartments will include two-bed and one-bed homes.

There will also be 23 car parking spaces and areas for secure bicycle storage.

Through a Section 106 agreement with the council, the developer will have to make a financial contribution of £16,835 towards upgrading the pathway network within Lees Park.

Another apartment block, also given the go-ahead by the committee, is to be built in Mossley, on land adjacent to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

There will be ten two-bed flats and two one-bed apartments on the site off Egmont Street, as well as two detached four-bedroom houses.

Agent for the applicant Jason Dugdale said: “It’s virtually the same as a site that’s constructed on the opposite side of the canal, so it’s in a brownfield site and it has previously had planning.”

The applications were approved unanimously by councillors.