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The three huge developments proposed for Tameside's green belt

Friday, 30 October 2020 07:49

By Charlotte Green, Local Democracy Reporter @CharGreenLDR

These are the three huge developments proposed for Tameside's green belt under the latest draft of the region's housebuilding masterplan.

The current iteration of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) is due to be discussed by leaders at a meeting of the combined authority on Friday (30 October).

The proposals for Tameside are almost identical to those featured in the 2019 blueprint, but there have been some minor changes, including a reduction in the amount of employment space.

Around 2,790 homes would be built on land designated as green belt.

The most contentious issue in the latest plans for Tameside leaders wasn’t actually a site in the borough, but one on the Tame Valley border under Stockport council’s allocation.

Denton councillors and MP Andrew Gwynne were vocal opponents to the plans to expand Bredbury Industrial Estate with an extra 90,000 sqm, and the ensuing row between councils threatened to derail the entire GMSF at the eleventh hour.

The publication of the draft was delayed while a compromise was sought, with the latest proposals showing that the development has shrunk by a third to 60,000 sqm.

It means nearly 25 acres that would previously have been earmarked for industrial use will now remain in the green belt.

However other controversial proposals – including the Godley Green Garden Village – remain unaltered.

Godley Green Garden Village – 2,350 homes 

One of the larger green belt developments proposed under the GMSF is the plan to build a brand new ‘garden village’ near to Godley and Hattersley.

The Godley Green village covers the same footprint as it did in 2016, spanning open green belt land to the north of Mottram Old Road, and features 2,350 homes.

Bosses believe it will offer a chance to build a creative development that can utilise innovative technology to make it energy efficient and resilient to climate change.

There would be older persons housing and plots for custom and self-build featured, with an overall aim of creating ‘aspirational and desirable communities’ on the edge of the countryside.

Godley Brook, which runs south-north through the centre of the site, will effectively divide Godley Green into two villages.

Each village would be served by a local hub offering a range of ‘community and retail facilities’ where it’s planned that residents can meet most of their day-to-day needs.

There may also be the potential to develop a hotel or elderly care facilities as part of the hubs, according to the latest GMSF plans. 

Flexible workspace could also be delivered in the part of the site close to Hattersley Train Station.

The vision is part of the government’s ‘garden village’ scheme, championed by local MP Jonathan Reynolds.

Sites of biological importance at Werneth Brook and Brookfold Wood would be protected and enhanced, as would areas of ancient woodland.

“Godley Green presents a significant opportunity to realise the ambitious vision of delivering a new large-scale settlement of around 2,350 new homes in the south of the borough, adjacent to the residential neighbourhoods of Godley and Hattersley,” documents state.

“The ongoing regeneration in Hattersley will be reinforced by the development at Godley Green, providing positive outcomes and opportunities in an area of deprivation.”

Access to the new garden village would be from Mottram Old Road.

South of Hyde – 440 homes

The plans around Hyde have remained the same as those proposed last year, with a significant reduction from the 935 homes put forward in the 2016 draft.

Those revisions saw one site on westward land at Hyde Hall Farm, removed, effectively halving the overall proposal to just 440 homes.

The two remaining sites are south west of Haughton Green and the other over the other side of the A560 bordering Stockport.

Documents state that they want to make sure that ‘Garden City principles are enshrined throughout’ the development.

The aim is to ‘respect and enhance’ heritage assets in the area, including Grade Two listed assets Apethorn Farmhouse – which is on Historic England’s ‘heritage at risk register’ – and Pole Bank Hall.

According to the GMSF, it is expected that full restoration of the Apethorn Farm complex will commence in the early phase of development. 

Existing public rights of way, including the Cown Edge Way will be incorporated as part of the new developments. 

The house types will use zero-carbon technology where possible, and homes for old people – as well as custom and self-build plots – could also feature.

Ashton Moss West – 160,000 sqm employment space 

The industrial proposals outside Ashton-under-Lyne have been scaled down slightly further since the last draft came out in January 2019.

In 2016 there had been 2,000 homes and 200,000 sq m of employment space proposed for the land around Junctions 22 and 23 of the M60, but a large slice of that land was removed entirely in the 2019 draft.

Instead 175,000 sq m of commercial development was proposed. That has now been cut back further to 160,000 sq m.

According to the document, the land has previously been identified as part of a potential World EXPO site.

The businesses the site is being considered suitable for are in industries such as life sciences, health technologies, advanced manufacturing and ‘materials science/fabrication’.

The GMSF states that the site is ‘critical’ to provide expansion opportunities for existing businesses in the borough, and to bring inward investment.

Bosses believe that developing the site will bring about ‘long term benefits’ to communities in deprived areas of Droylsden and Ashton by providing locally accessible employment. 

 

Main image:

The latest GMSF plans for Tameside. Photo: GMCA. 

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