PLANNING | Approval tipped for Rochdale homes, 200,000 sq ft industrial
Plans for 61 homes on greenfield land at Stubley Meadows off New Street, as well as two warehouses at Kingsway Business Park, are set for the green light at the council’s planning committee meeting on Thursday.
New Street
Application number: 22/01039/FUL
The scheme would provide 9 affordable homes. Credit: MPSL Planning & Design
Developer Russell Homes wants to deliver 61 homes on the vacant nine-acre greenfield plot off New Street in Littleborough.
Architect MPLS Planning & Design designed the scheme, which would feature five two-, 15 three-, and 41 four-bedroom properties.
Of the 61 homes, nine would be affordable while two would be specially designed for the care of vulnerable children, which would be operated by Rochdale Council.
Residents would be provided with 188 car parking spaces.
The application has received more than 500 objections due to the site’s undeveloped status, with concerns raised over the loss of green space, existing traffic problems, and an increased strain on public services.
Rochdale Council is minded to approve the plans as the development would “meet a variety of strategic housing requirements within the borough”, according to a council report.
Stantec is the scheme’s planning consultant. Also on the project team is landscape architect TPM Landscape, transport consultant Focus Transport Planning, and noise consultant E3p.
Nearby, Russell Homes already has planning permission to build 96 homes on neighbouring land on New Road.
Kingsway Business Park
Application number: 22/01200/FUL
Wilson Bowden has proposed two warehouses at Kingsway Business Park. Credit: via planning documents
Wilson Bowden wants to create two industrial units on an 11-acre vacant plot at the park to deliver a total of 203,500 sq ft of employment space.
The larger unit would provide 116,500 sq ft of employment space, and the smaller 87,000 sq ft.
DLA Architecture drew up the plans for the warehouses, which would be accessed off James Kearns Avenue.
Visitors would have access to 179 car parking spaces, including 18 electric vehicle charging. There would also be five motorcycle, 11 disabled, and 31 cycle spaces.
Pegasus Group is the scheme’s planning consultant. BWB is the engineering and environmental consultant.
The application went to committee in February, and was deferred due to concerns over the layout of the scheme. Since then, the two units have been slightly repositioned.
The council is now minded to approve the proposals.
Littleborough’s green spaces are already disappearing. There aren’t enough doctors,school places,space to enjoy the green areas are in short supply. The roads are already conjested at peak times. There will be at least 60+ cars more in the borough. If planning goes ahead for the 100 + houses near the lake as well that will mean 160+ cars to add to the congestion. Do any of the people who are planning all this live in Littleborough. I guess not!!
By Ann Fletcher Whitegate
Some residents wanted to buy the land to protect it and were told by RMBC that it was not for sale as it was protected open land. Then a housing developer comes along and suddenly the council are happy to sell the land exclusively Russell Homes. This land is not in the SHLAA and is a purely opportunistic development with a process that has not been open, transparent or fair. The loss of this green space corridor is a devastating loss to Littleborough and to British wildlife. It makes a mockery of RMBC’s Climate change strategy. There a host of bird species from the red list on the pond on this site. The Councillors are supposed to work for the people, so let’s hope the see sense and don’t pass planning or sell this land. Surely over 500 objections must count for something.
By Anonymous
Business as usual, we’re all Doomed anyhow, the apatite for building on Green spaces has no boundaries, money in the bank, that’s all that matters…who care about Nature & habitat Loss, there’s no cash in that. Short sighted individuals causing Long sighted issues. They should be proud to be apart of the Problem, They can tell their kids that!!
By John
Rochdale has no need for 4 bedroom homes. There are already hundreds of those. What Rochdale needs is the type of housing suitable for its older population i.e single storey properties with access to the facilities needed by such residents. These alleged “executive homes” tend to have multiple vehicles and have a much higher environmental footprint.
What is the environmental footprint of this & other similar developments?
By Anonymous