New 175-home scheme to be decided on next week

A controversial 175-home development on green space will be decided on next week.

A plot off Huddersfield Road in Mossley has been earmarked for the new estate, which would have three, four and five bed homes.
Proposals include a play area; a road connecting houses to Huddersfield Road; and footpaths linking to the surrounding green space.

The ‘linear open space’ through the centre of the site would feature ‘opportunities for informal play and recreation in the form of benches, natural play logs and play boulders’, developer Wain Homes said.The site, between Hey Farm Estate and Mossley Hollins High School, is seen as ideal by developers as it is within a stone’s throw of schools, shops, medical facilities, sport and recreational areas.

The scheme has seen hundreds of objections, which will be heard by Tameside council’s planning panel onJuly 22. Objections raised include concerns over the development being too big; possible overshadowing; worsening of traffic; and a loss of green space. In a previous stage of the planning process it was suggested that more high-end homes would help tackle the shortage of ‘executive’ properties in the area. Some 26 of the houses would be affordable (priced up to 80 per cent of market rate) – which is just under 15 pc of the total number of homes.

The lack of affordable homes sparked further annoyance as objectors said new homes in the area are too pricey as it is. 
During a public consultation on the plans, which first emerged back in 2019, Mossley residents expressed concerns over traffic problems and flooding on Huddersfield Road, near to Hey Farm. Over 500 objections were lodged with the council before outline approval was granted by Tameside council’s planning panel in December 2023.

The latest move from Wain Homes is what is called a reserve matters application. Outline planning permission finds out whether a development’s scale and nature is okay in principle, with reserved matters finalising the plans with design and landscaping.

Planning papers read: “The submitted plans demonstrate that the proposed development would comprise a high quality scheme that would integrate well with the character and appearance of the surrounding area.“It has been demonstrated that the proposed development is compliant with the development plan and planning permission should be granted without delay.” The local authority’s planning panel will meet Guardsman Tony Downes House building in Droylsden to decide on the matter next week.