Approval for 47 homes at derelict site
HOUSES TO BE BUILT AT FORMER SPORTS CENTRE DESPITE CONCERNS FOR WILDLIFE
DOZENS of new homes are to be built on a former soccer village.
The now defunct-sports centre, off Wildhouse Lane, in Milnrow, Rochdale will be demolished to make way for 47 houses, ranging from two bedroom to five-bedroom properties.
Rochdale council’s planning committee has given the go-ahead for the scheme, including six bungalows on a ‘small parcel’ of green belt land.
Tom Whitehead of developer Lancet Homes told a meeting of the committee the firm had an ‘excellent track record’ of creating high quality schemes, often working in partnership with local authorities.
He added: “Rochdale is a key location for investment and growth and we want to drive increased confidence in the borough, especially in these uncertain times.”
The company’s agent, Dough Hann, also spoke in favour of the proposals.
He said: “The scheme, overall, will deliver significant benefits in terms of redeveloping an unsightly brownfield site, delivering higher value family homes and delivering bungalows that meet not only an elderly need but a need for many people.” Mr Hann added that the development would also better complement nearby Grade II* listed Birchinley
Manor, while new area of open space on the site would offset the loss of green belt land.
However, local resident Greg Baker spoke against the scheme.
The Milnrow resident raised concerns over road safety - particularly where the speed limit changes near the junction of Kiln Lane and Wildhouse Lane.
And he also took issue with the absence of affordable housing, which council officers had accepted would make the development ‘financially unviable’.
The bungalows on the green belt were also said to be necessary for the same reason. The one thing we need more of is affordable homes,” he said. “There are none on this development It’s an absolute shame. If you are going to build anything it needs to have affordable homes for people.”
He added that building on the green belt would ‘ wipe out’ wildlife including birds of prey, deer, hares and rabbits.
“If the viability of landscape is such that it needs six bungalows to be built, then I question the whole development,” he said. “Frankly encroaching into the green belt is wrong.” Councillors including Coun Irene Davidson and John Taylor echoed Mr Baker’s concerns over the safety of the Wildhouse Lane/ Kiln Lane junction - with the latter suggesting bollards to prevent overtaking.
Rochdale is a key location for investment and growth
Tom Whitehead of developer Lancet Homes