SADDLEWORTH’S contribution to Greater Manchester’s contentious homes jobs and environment plan comes under scrutiny in Greenfield later this month.
Centre piece of proposals for the Robert Fletchers paper mill site off Holmfirth Road will be the building of 170 new homes.
Public consultation for all sites across Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities and continues until March 18.
The chief points of the Saddleworth plan revealed last month include:
• About 170 homes with a mix of low-density family and executive homes and affordable homes of two and three bedrooms;
• Building of 10-15 holiday lodges;
• Boutique hotel to complement the lodge accommodation;
• Provision for a visitor education centre linking to Dovestone Reservoir in partnership with RSPB and United Utilities;
• New access point at Manchester Road with spine road linking to and enhancing existing highway network;
• Provide around 2,500sqm of employment floorspace as extension to the provision of Waterside Mill which is to be retained;
• Provide for new and/or improvement of existing open space, sport and recreation facilities.
Ahead of the Greenfield meeting that took place on February 14, the Independent asked some questions of Oldham Council.
SI: How many affordable houses are included in the 170 homes?
OMBC: Because this is not a full or outline application but rather a Local Plan allocation document, no details have yet been considered in relation to affordable housing.
The scheme will, of course, be required to meet the Council’s affordable housing policy should the allocation be supported.
SI: How many bedrooms will be at the boutique hotel?
OMBC: Because this is not a full or outline application, no details have yet been considered in relation to the number of hotel bedrooms on site.
SI: What correspondence has there been with RSPB and United Utilities regarding the visitor education centre?
OMBC: A meeting took place with United Utilities and the RSPB on August 1, 2018 between 11.30am-12.30pm.
SI: Was Waterside Mill included in the first GMSF report?
OMBC: No.
SI: Where will the “extension” to the provision at Waterside be built and on what kind of land?
OMBC: Because this is not a full or outline application, no specific details have yet been confirmed about an extension.
However, practically any extension would have to be located on the land to north of the existing mill and south of the water.
Indicative layouts suggest this site could measure 0.22 hectares and produce between 1,200 and 2,500 sqm of employment floorspace.
SI: On what and whose land will the spine road be built? How long is the proposed spine road?
OMBC: Because this is not a full or outline application, but rather a Local Plan allocation document, no specific details have yet been provided on the spine road.
However, practically the spine road would be likely to run along the north of the water with links dropping into the site and joining with the existing road into Dovestone.
SI: What sport and recreation facilities are planned?
OMBC: Because this is not a full or outline application, but rather a Local Plan allocation document, no specific details have yet been provided.
However, a managed recreation place would be practical on the site of the former football pitch and beyond and the fishing and mill ponds would also be expected by officers.
SI: Where are the additional school places coming from? Which areas?
OMBC: There is sufficient capacity in schools to cope with the proposed 170 new homes in Saddleworth.
SI: What provisions are planned to meet point 17 ‘appropriate health and community facilities’ Where will they be sited?
OMBC: Because this is not a full or outline application, but rather a Local Plan allocation document, no specific details have yet been provided on specific health and community facilities.
However, such facilities would be required, in line with the Council’s emerging Local Plan.
SI: Could you explain why the sites at Dacres, Stoneswood, land behind Denshaw Village Hall and Wall Hill were identified to be added to the greenbelt register. Were any other areas considered and rejected?
OMBC: These areas were considered to have NPPF compliant greenbelt characteristics to be able to be justified to be included in the greenbelt.
Other areas were considered but failed to show sufficient greenbelt characteristics to justify inclusion or be agreed by a Planning Inspector at a GMSF Local Plan Inquiry.
There are other ways you can make representations about Fletchers or other sites in the Spatial Framework:
• Email planningandhousing@greatermanchester-ca.co.uk
• By post to: Planning Team Consultation, GMCA, Churchgate House, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6EU
• Online: www.gmconsult.org
• Ring: the Greater Manchester Planning Team on 0161 778 7000.
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