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Controversial 200 homes plan in Oldham withdrawn

Thursday, 3 December 2020 16:21

By Charlotte Green, Local Democracy Reporter X @CharGreenLDR

Controversial plans to build up to 200 homes on a former quarry site and protected green space in Oldham have been withdrawn by the developer.

A planning application was submitted in June for a huge housing development at Springhead Quarry and land which had been the former Stone Breaks quarry, between the villages of Springhead and Grotton.

It was proposed by the Stonebreaks Group, a group of individuals who jointly own the land, working together with development company the Millson Group.

However according to the Oldham planning portal, the application was withdrawn on November 23.

The Millson Group did not respond to requests to comment about the reasons for the application being withdrawn when contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Residents had rallied against the latest plans, with more than 700 people forming a Facebook group called Save Stonebreaks.

Local campaigner, Mark Kenyon, who helped organise the community response, said there had been hundreds of objections to the plans.

“People are understandably relieved,” he said.

“This was wrong on so many levels and with over 400 objections it should come as no surprise that maybe the developer has had a rethink.

“If the application is resubmitted let’s hope that the council don’t just pay lip service to peoples’ concerns about traffic, access to schools, doctors and the loss of a beautiful green space.”

The site, which is bounded by a conservation area, has been subject to several planning applications over the years, which were all vociferously opposed by local residents.

Almost 90pc of the land off Cooper Street is designated as Other Protected Open Land (OPOL) which, although not officially green belt, is locally protected.

A 2011 application by the same developer for 61 dwellings was approved despite a backlash, but due to ‘viability issues’ never progressed.

The proposals included 142 houses, from two-bed up to five-bed, and 18 one and two-bed apartments. Of these, 10pc would have been ‘affordable’.

A 40-bed ‘elderly living facility’ for the over 55s was also included in the plans.

A design and access document by the Millson Group argued that the removal of the land from OPOL allocation should be acceptable in order to allow for a ‘sustainable and viable development to be brought forward’.

The developer said that it would see ‘enhanced open space’ to increase accessibility to the public, as well as creation and enhancement of wildlife habitats to support the biodiversity within the site.

The public right of way on the land would be improved, they say, with a ‘maintained and improved green link corridor’.

The application was originally submitted ten months after Oldham’s planning committee approved plans by Russell Homes for 265 homes and a £3.5m link road on OPOL land at Knowls Lane in Springhead, despite opposition from thousands of residents.

Resident Kay Faulkner welcomed the news that the homes application for the quarry site had been withdrawn.

She said: “Stonebreaks isn’t just a beautiful place to walk and be with my family, it’s an important resource for all.

“Whilst we try to digest the harm that the 250 plus houses on Knowls Lane will do to our community, learning that we’ve won this round is welcome news for everyone who worked so hard.

“If there is to be a next round – we’re ready.”

Images of the plans which were submitted. Photo credit: Millson Group.

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