The man who won’t budge for the Godley Green development

Alan French lives on an idyllic farmstead surrounded by trees, shrubbery and open fields. But all the land around him is being bought up so 2,150 homes can be built on his doorstep.

The 76-year-old grew up in the countryside on the border of Tameside and Stockport and has been chased out of every home he’s lived in so houses could be built. This time he is not budging. Alan has lived on the farm for 17 years. He moved to Far Meadow Farm after being forced out of two previous homes in neighbouring Romiley due to compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).

He feared a CPO would come through the letterbox once again when the new Godley Green Garden Village plan reared its head a decade ago. But that has yet to arrive. Now he is resolute in that he’s staying and authorities would have to ‘wait until he’s dead’ before they could get his land.
The scheme would see 2,150 homes built off Mottram Old Road in the Hyde countryside over a 15 year period. The proposal would see a new ‘village’ split by Godley Brook into two halves, each with its own centre, including up to 1,300 sqm of retail space, 1,600 sqm of commercial and 1,000 sqm for community use.

It was granted outline planning approval earlier this year. At the meeting Alan was mentioned by numerous campaigners pushing for the controversial scheme to be thrown out. They said Alan was one of many who would have their lives uprooted by the proposal. At the moment, things are quiet and the farmer says he’s had no contact with the developers or Tameside council since 2024.
Alan’s plot was on the map for the Godley Green development, but he believes changes have been made and he’s now living on the edge of the proposed site.

“I don’t go to the consultation meetings because I can’t be bothered with it all,” Alan said. “I’m done with it. “I just think, piss off, leave me alone, I’m not moving. Everytime I move somewhere developers want it. I’m mega pissed off. “I’ve heard nothing really. There are lots of people who go to meetings and they tell me what’s going on. “I think it will be a long time off if they do come to do a CPO on me. I’m 76 now and I think by the time it all gets going and they build from the other end, I shall probably have died by then. But just for spite I’m not going to. “I’ve heard nothing and I think word has gotten around that Alan French is not moving. If they come I would tell them how many times this has happened to me and it bloody well won’t happen again.

“This is no longer a rural place. It’s going to get worse if they get their way.” Alan explained how he’s on the edge of the development land for Godley Green, with CPOs being issued on all his neighbours to get the scheme over the line. ‘If it’s got a roof on then want it’, is how the farmer puts it.
Previously, when the Local Democracy Reporting Service visited Alan’s farm off Mottram Old Road in 2024, he spoke of how the council just kept asking whether he had changed his mind on selling up. The answer then was the same answer he would give now – no.

He loves his life on the farm. When speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service he spoke with joy about his horses Yan and Tommy and joked about his chickens that only understand Chinese due to their previous owners. He has seen the rural landscape decrease in Tameside in recent years though. The area where Hattersley and Mottram is used to be a farming community in his early years. Alan added: “On a day like today it’s gorgeous. It’s sunny, lovely and I can’t see houses because of the trees and I can see the moors. “I know I don’t own the view, but it’s very nice to have it. I went to Hattersley and thought ‘this is awful’ because they’ve built another supermarket opposite the other one and built something else stupid.

“It’s not needed. Mottram is chocka block now and you can’t get through it. All the green space is being turned urban. “The wildlife we’ve got here is becoming less. The deer used to come into the ménage with their babies. There was one dead last week on the road because the traffic is ridiculous. “There is a motorcyclist going down the road doing 80. This is most days. “The biggest change is building things that aren’t needed. I thought they were short of houses so I get confused when they build things like that supermarket in Hattersley.”

Alan said those in the farming community feel they are being pushed out of the area between Tameside and Stockport to make way for new homes. Although he is a supporter of the campaign aginst Godley Green, he simply wants to live his life in peace. There has been a fierce battle from campaigners to stop the development, being tabled by Tameside council and MADE partnership – a joint venture between Barratt Redrow PLC, Homes England and Lloyds Banking Group. The application received thousands of objections from residents who fear the potential loss of green land will ‘ruin’ the area.

MADE offered almost £29m of improvements to the area of Godley. These contributions, known as Section 106 (S106) cash, were intended for road infrastructure improvements; a new primary school; healthcare facilities; and a bridge going east and west – connecting the villages to Hattersley.

When the scheme was approved on March 18, Eleanor Wills, leader of Tameside Council, said: “This resolution to grant consent is ultimately the result of our forming a strategic partnership with MADE so that we could address the opportunity in the best possible way, and I look forward to watching its progress.

“The designs not only consider the importance of infrastructure and green spaces, but also the mix of people that come together to make a proper community. Godley Green will have homes for young couples and families, retirees, and single people, offering a range of sizes and tenures.
“We’ll create a natural, representative community from the outset, that works for toddlers all the way to their grandparents.

“The development has been thought through very carefully indeed and will be a welcome addition to Tameside whilst helping us fulfil our obligations to the central government to provide more high-quality homes as our population grows.”
Stephen Kinsella, managing director MADE Partnership, added: “This is a major step forward after a considerable amount of hard work and constructive engagement with our partners at Tameside Council and key stakeholders.

“We are planning a high-quality development where green space and community facilities are at the heart of its design. Godley Green Garden Village will be a place where residents will be proud to live, work and relax.”