Dozens of new homes are set to be built across Tameside at a crunch planning meeting next week. 

Three housing developments are in line for approval, two of which would see the conversion of old well-known sites in the area. Good Hope Mill and the former Mottram Police Station are both primed for 18 and 14 new homes respectively.

These plans were originally designed to be for 100% affordable housing, but the Good Hope Mill site is now going back on that – saying it isn’t financially viable. 

The final housing development would be on a vacant patch of land in Dukinfield, which has been waiting on a decision for four years.

All three schemes are due to be decided on by Tameside Council’s planning panel next week (May 26). Here is a more detailed look at all the applications on the agenda…

Good Hope Mill

The century-old mill in the centre of Ashton has been earmarked for a transformation into 18 new apartments.

What is now known as the Good Hope Business Centre currently consists of separate retail and commercial units as well as a place of worship. The plan to create 18 one-bedroom flats and studios within the building was approved by the planning panel last year.

All the homes at the Cross Street site, formerly known as Good Hope Mill, were to be made available for social and affordable rates (up to 80% of market value).

Now the developer, Mr Miah Subhan, says making them all affordable homes is no longer financially viable. So he has to go back before Tameside Council’s planning panel for permission to remove the affordable aspect of the application.

A few external changes would also occur during construction and some on-street parking would be available for residents when they move in. The amended application has been recommended for approval by the planning officers.

Good Hope Mill, Cross Street, Ashton. Credit: Tameside Council

Former Mottram Police Station

New homes could be built on the site of a former police station – more than a decade after it was demolished. 

Before being knocked down in 2012, the site in Mottram had fallen into ruin. Now Onward Homes wants to build 14 houses where it once stood. The developer says all the new homes will be high-quality, affordable, and have three bedrooms.

If planning permission is approved by the council, the homes will be available for either affordable rent, rent-to-buy or shared ownership, to help meet identified housing needs in the local area.

The site, off Market Place, will benefit from a mix of off-street and communal parking. Each home would have its own private garden as well as access to open public space, according to the developers.

The application has been recommended for approval by the planning officers.

CGI of how the transformation of the former Mottram police station could look. Credit: Tameside Council

Land off Sandy Lane

Vacant grassland in Dukinfield could soon become home to a new housing development.

If the plan is approved, B.A.K Civil Engineering would build 19 new homes on the parcel of land on the corner of Sandy Lane and Park Road. The residential development would comprise 10 two-bedroom homes and nine three-bedroom homes.

Despite the proposal being approved by the planning panel back in July 2021, the length of time taken to draw up a Section 106 (S106) agreement means it has to come back before the panel next week.

A S106 is an agreement between a developer and the local authority that includes various obligations, such as contributions to affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, or restrictions on the use of the land.

In this case, three of the homes in the development would be made available for affordable rent (up to 80% of the market value).

The application has been recommended for approval by the planning officers.

Land off Sandy Lane, Dukinfield, Tameside. Credit: Tameside Council