Consultation on Broadbent Moss and Beal Valley plans – for second time

Oldhamers are being asked to weigh in on a plan for 1,700 new homes on a former green space.

A group of housebuilders – Casey, Barratt Redrow, Wain Homes, Grasscroft Homes & Property, and Kellen Homes – wants to transform the area around Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss into several new neighbourhoods. 

Plans include new roads and a new Metrolink stop at Cop Road, between Derker and Shaw & Crompton. 

A draft masterplan was approved by town hall bosses last year. Kellen Homes has submitted a planning application for the first 248 homes near Bullcote Lane.

Opposition councillors pumped the brakes on the process over fears locals had not had ‘enough of a say’. A consultation was carried out by developers in July last year. 

Now the council will carry out its own surveys using the same draft documents. 

Confirming the new consultation earlier this week, deputy leader and housing boss councillor Elaine Taylor said: “The masterplan and spatial design code is the same as the one previously presented. 

“It creates homes for people, space for jobs, community facilities, connectivity between existing neighbourhoods, a new Metrolink and bus stops, improved access to the wider countryside, new accessible open spaces, as well as new habitats in which nature can flourish.” 

Cllr Taylor confirmed the second consultation had caused a ‘12-month delay’ that could see developers’ costs increase. 

That could have an impact on how much the council can demand in Section 106 agreements, which require developers to contribute towards the cost of creating new green spaces and amenities.

The plans at Beal Valley and Broadbent Moss have sparked concern in some quarters. The land was allocated for housebuilding under the Places for Everyone (PfE) agreement, a – nearly – Greater Manchester-wide deal to create new homes and places of work. 

PfE was strongly opposed by greenbelt and wildlife campaigners. The new project continues to be criticised for its use of green space, despite parts of the land that were in the greenbelt now being de-allocated. 

Residents have also raised concerns over traffic congestion, parking, and a lack of new facilities such as schools, health centres, and dentists to accommodate 1,700 new households.  

Mike Coulter from Grasscroft Homes noted the project had ‘already been through significant public consultation’. He previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service developments on the land included agreements to improve existing highways infrastructure to help address existing problems. 

There would also be new local centres, with spaces for community amenities, as well as retaining a significant amount of green space for public use. 

Mr Coulter added: “Many people have recognised that development is necessary, highlighting the difficulty that friends or family members have in securing homes locally. The mix of homes proposed as part of the development in Broadbent Moss and Beal Valley will play a big part in enabling the next generation of Oldhamers to get on the housing ladder without having to move out of Borough.”

The consultation can be accessed on the council website and is open until Friday, March 27.