Polarising Failsworth project squeaks past Oldham committee

Jones Homes’ application for 41 homes in Woodhouses village returned to the council chamber after a deferral in January, and was passionately discussed for 90 minutes before finally being granted a somewhat reluctant approval.

Following the exchange, a larger application from FO Developments, seeking permission for the development of 101 homes, sailed through with relative ease, passing within 20 minutes with unanimous approval.

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Jones Homes’ plans for 41 homes at Woodhouses in Failsworth, which had been deferred in January, won a knife-edge vote, with a resolution to grant approval passed pending a Section 106 agreement.

Councillors representing the “significant concerns of local residents” mainly aimed at traffic concerns – were backed by applause.

Local residents “accept the principle” of residential development but are concerned about highway safety and traffic issues.

Audible gasps were heard in Oldham Civic Centre after a ten-minute objection speech from Cllr Ken Rustidge was deemed “not relevant to the planning application” by the chair.

Jones Homes then reiterated to the committee its readiness to appeal should the plans, for a long-allocated housing site, be refused over the issues causing consternation. Officer recommendation was to approve.

Dissenting councillors put forward a motion to reject the scheme on highway safety grounds. When the seconded motion was rejected, some councillors mistakenly cheered, thinking the entire application had been dismissed – the chair, at the advice of the officer, reminded representatives that voting on the motion was not the same as the application.

Then, the polarised committee underwent a lengthy voting process over the application’s fate with several recounts of votes.

Opposing councillors struggled to accept the resulting seven-seven tie, which to some appeared more like six hands than seven.

To his apparent surprise, committee chair Cllr Marc Hince was told that following a tie, he had the casting vote – the numbers were clarified for a fourth time.

Cllr Hince then responded to shouts from the gallery suggesting that by voting for the scheme he would be complicit for a death on the road by stating he was “not responsible for people’s illegal driving” – and casting a second tiebreaker, rubberstamping the application.

To be located on a four-acre plot south of Ashton Road, the scheme has been designed by Woodcroft Design.

The developer will build 10 three-bed and 27 four-bed houses, as well as provide space for 82 cars.

The project team includes Cura Terrae, Element Sustainability, Cheshire Woodlands, Bureau Veritas, RSK Geosciences, Focus, and Stantec.

Jones Homes is a subsidiary of The Emerson Group, which has three operational divisions, including Emerson International, Orbit Developments, and Jones Homes.

Following approval, a break was held.

Credit: FO Developments’ scheme in Chadderton will be handed over to Great Places Housing. Credit: Google Earth

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The second application to be heard by the committee – FO Developments’ plan to build 101 homes in Foxdenton, Chadderton was passed unanimously within 20 minutes.

The 6.5-acre site is accessed from Horton Close and is currently made up of Foxdenton Farm Riding School as well as undeveloped land.

It will now host 20 two-bedroom homes along with 52 three-beds and 29 four-beds.

The project was designed by Stonebond, while DAC Landscape Architecture designed the outdoor areas.

Great Places Housing is to offer all the houses for shared ownership. Chadkirk Consulting is the planning consultant for the scheme.