All systems go for 2,150-home Godley Green
Tameside Council has received word from Whitehall that Michael Gove will not be calling in the controversial proposal for more scrutiny, meaning the scheme can go ahead.
The authority gave internal sign-off for the 2,150-home Godley Green Garden Village earlier this month in the face of more than 4,000 letters of objection. The council decided the benefits of the development would outweigh the impact of building on the Green Belt.
Following the approval, Tameside had to wait for final sign-off from the secretary of state.
Cllr Gerald Cooney, executive leader of Tameside Council said Gove’s decision to wave the scheme through was “welcome news” and demonstrated the council’s “sound decision-making process”.
“Plans for Godley Green will move ahead to provide much-needed homes for generations to come,” he said.
“This is a pioneering development right here in Tameside that has wide-ranging benefits for the whole borough. We are excited to be creating a garden community and will continue to have people at the very heart of the development.”
Cooney added that the council is now seeking a developer partner to deliver the scheme.
The outline application, which also proposes the delivery of shops, offices, a medical centre, and 150 acres of open space, will now be referred to the secretary of state for final approval.
Godley Green Garden Village has been in the works for several years and has proved controversial in some quarters due to its location in the Green Belt.
The 315-acre swathe of land between Godley, Hyde, Hattersley, and Gee Cross is one of several Green Belt sites earmarked for development in the Places for Everyone spatial framework.
It’s hilarious how they blunder on without thinking about the knock on effects. Absolutely brilliant can’t wait to see how this plays out I really can’t.
By Lopez the great
Will there be a new train station? Schools, GPs surgeries, shops etc?
By Anon
This a great scheme. Much needed new housing for the area. Get it built.
By Anonymous
Can’t believe this absurd propsal has just been waived through without thought or consequences for the people who will lose their homes and businesses. We do not need this area to be ripped apart there’s plenty of brown fill land to build on. The infrastructure is not there to support this unpopular scheme.
By Brenda Preston
This is horrendous news, especially for the wildlife who currently call Godley Green their home.
I’ve voted Labour all my life. From now on, I’ll find something better to do on polling day.
By John Gregory
Tameside Council finally got this bulldozed through and completely ignored their electorate!
By Resident of Godley
How much is being. Invested in the infrastructure of Tameside?
By Anonymous
Godley Green Garden Village evokes wonderful images.The truth is it will be high density,non descript housing with bits of green spaces and sticks for trees.
By Peter Chapman
So that’s another 4,300 cars on the roads in and out of Hyde every day which can barely cope as it is. Hyde (including this development) is situated within a triangle of railway lines so there are only a limited number of access points in an out which grind to a halt easily. Without improving the road infrastructure first this development will be a nightmare for the people who live in Hyde – but as always, they don’t matter.
By Hydonian
Great news! A sensible decision to build homes near train stations and a town centre that could use the extra ~ 6,000 people to keep it vibrant and businesses afloat. The population is growing and releasing the green belt is the way forward to ensure people have desirable houses in the suburbs with space to live! These areas are for family houses, not mass blocks of flats!
By MC
What has this decision got to do with a National Government temporary place-man in London? Let those impacted decide. At least pretend that we have a democracy.
By Anonymous
Did you expect anything else with this third rate council, more houses for who
By Peter Walker
The local schools are all oversubscribed so wjere will the children from the new development be educated…..oh yes in the same over subscribed schools. Usual jobsworths pushing through something that hasnt been thought through completely.
By Anonymous
More homes and yet no more road infrastructure, have any of these planners actually queued up in traffic to go through this area
By Geoff mackay
Hattersley gp surgery can’t cope now we were supposed to be getting a new clinic near the hub bet this won’t happen now
By George hangle
Need to sort out the road and motorway can’t handle the current traffic!
By Anonymous
So glad I left the area before this is done. It’s tragic that on the one hand the idiots who run the country are encouraging people to get outside mre and exercise, and on the other hand they’re hell-bent on destroying the few green places left. Tameside? Shameside!
By itsmeagain
I’de like to know just who is going to benefit from this? All this talk of people shopping in Hyde. Where? What are they buying? Theres no shops left. You can hear the tumbrel weeds blowing through this poor forsaken little place.
By mr bloggs
Guys relax. It will have a secondary school. It’s right next to a railway station. Shops on site. You could have read this for yourself before jumping in with silly comments.
By Fred