150 new homes approved despite fears over ‘extremely dangerous’ roads

Nearly 150 new homes will be built on a disused field in an Oldham town despite neighbours fearing it will make roads ‘extremely dangerous’.

Oldham council has approved the project, on grounds off Butterworth Lane, which was once home to South Chadderton School and the Collective Spirit School.

Developers Rowland Homes is now able to build 149 properties, with a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom houses and apartments. 

The homes will come with at least one parking space and landscaping. Some 40 per cent of the plots will be classed as ‘affordable’, available for social rent, affordable rent or shared ownership. 

Planning agent Jack Woodford, representing Rowland Homes at a planning meeting on Wednesday, February 11, told the committee the development would create ‘much-needed family homes … with excellent access to local facilities and public transport’.

But locals in the area were not impressed by the plans, with more than 35 objections describing a ‘nightmare’ traffic issue around Whitegate End Primary School.

Rob Jackson, a Chadderton resident, told the council: “We all agree the land needs to be used, it’s the design of the scheme that needs further consideration. Butterworth Lane already suffers from a large amount of congestion and safety issues, especially to and from drop off points and during pick-up times.”

Jackson explained that locals were not opposed to the houses, but the fact the whole neighbourhood – which will consist of a grid of several new roads – only had one entry point. Sited directly next to the school on Butterworth Lane, locals argued the roads would ‘not be capable of dealing with more volume’ and become ‘extremely dangerous’ for pedestrians. 

Assistant Director of Planning Peter Richardson argued: “We can’t refuse an application because of the existing traffic situation. That’s not the developer’s fault and it’s not for them to fix that. We have to look at what the anticipated change to the situation is because of this development. Ultimately, it’s not going to have an unacceptable impact, it’s not going to have a severe effect compared to the current situation.” 

Rowlands has pledged a financial contribution of almost £600,000 to address missing provisions for kids and young people, along with a £1,4m contribution towards education, and £6,000 towards installing CCTV cameras at the Broadway/Hollinwood Avenue junction for TfGM to monitor traffic.