Tameside Council has designated a raft of council-owned sites as surplus to requirements so that they can be redeveloped or transferred to community organisations.

The local authority says the sales and transfers aim to help improve the environment, provide much-needed additional housing and address anti-social behaviour in some locations.

The sites include the vacant Stamford Park Conservatory in Stalybridge, which the council previously agreed is suitable to be transferred to a community organisation. 

This means community groups can apply to take over its management and deliver an offer that has social and economic benefit to the borough. Groups who are interested in the Conservatory can approach the Director of Place via the Council’s call centre on 0161 342 8355.

The council's Executive Cabinet also declared surplus its interest in the Godley Green site in Hyde, which is the proposed Godley Green Garden Village residential development.

While the majority of the site is privately owned, the council is seeking to acquire land through options agreements or by Compulsory Purchase where all options are exhausted. Site purchases will only be exercised if planning permission is granted and will be subject to further approval from the Council’s Executive Cabinet.

Other sites included in the decision are:

• Land at Craven Street, Droylsden (recently cleared by the Council)
• Land adjacent to 4 Lime Street, Dukinfield
• Former 237-241 Cavendish Street, Ashton
• Land at Quarry Street, Stalybridge (interested party)
• Land at Kensington Grove/Vaudrey Street in Dukinfield
• Land at Buckley Street/Cheetham Hill Road, Stalybridge
• Part of the former yard and mess facilities at Droylsden Cemetery, Manor Road, Droylsden
• Land to the rear of 125 Great Norbury Street, Hyde (interest received)
• Land to the rear of Canon Burrows Primary School, Oldham Road, Ashton (school interested in acquiring)
• Land adjacent to the former clinic at Stamford Street/Trinity Street, Stalybridge
• Land to the rear of 61-83 Palace Road, Ashton (under offer)
• Former Longdendale Children’s Centre, off Spring Street, Hollingworth

The council says, where needed, it will advertise the majority of sites underpinned by independent valuations.

Councillor Jacqueline North, the Council’s First Deputy leading Finance, Resources and Transformation, said: “I am pleased that we are now making progress towards solutions for these locations where we aim to achieve an improved environment/reduce anti-social behaviour and provide opportunities for community organisations to make use of existing facilities. Progress on this will not always be straightforward but this decision is an important step in the right direction.” 

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