Godley Green Village plan to build over 2,000 homes built to go before planning panel AGAIN

One of the most controversial housing plans in Tameside’s recent history will go back before the council's planning panel.

The Godley Green Village plan - to build up to 2,150 homes on the Hyde countryside over a 15 year period - was granted approval in November 2023. The same application for outline permission will be put before planners on October 16.

Officers said a number of changes in the planning policy need to be raised with councillors. The application, tabled by the town hall itself, has more than 4,000 objections from residents who fear the potential loss of green belt will 'ruin' the area.

READ MORE: Strangeways SLAMMED as horrifying new report reveals scale of problems in troubled prison

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.

Godley Green was first included in the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) masterplan in 2016. The GMSF - since renamed Places for Everyone - is a Greater Manchester-wide plan to build thousands of houses across the region up to 2050.

In November, objectors held up banners and placards opposing the scheme. The same will be expected next week, given the plan for the land off Mottram Old Road has been met with resistance since it was first mooted eight-years-ago.

A GoFundMe page set up by campaigners to challenge the development with a Judicial Review is seeking to gather £10,000 target - in the hope that campaigners can get the High Court to stop it going ahead.

Objectors’ main argument against the proposals is that it could transform the current landscape from a rural to an urban setting. However, last year principal planning officer Steven Kirkham said that overall the garden village would deliver ‘significant social, health and economic benefits’, deliver a ‘substantial number of new homes’ and bring in millions of income for the council.

Additionally, Alder Community High School would be expanded under the proposals, and a bridge created for pedestrian and wheeling access across the railway line to connect to Hattersley station. A ‘subsidised bus service’ would also be provided during the early stage of the development to help support people to travel without using cars, the council promises.

Earlier this year, the council was granted £150,000 in funding from Homes England to secure the plots of land required to push forward with the development.

Following this, Coun Jack Naylor, executive member for inclusive growth, business & employment, said: “The Godley Green Garden Village is a really exciting and large-scale project that will deliver up to 2,150 homes over the next 15 years, which means it's critical to the Borough’s housing need and growth requirements.

"The development, which will embrace the Garden Village principles with people at the heart of it, will provide much needed homes in a sustainable community which will make the most of its surrounding green spaces and accessibility. The plans are progressing well and on schedule since the Outline Planning Application was approved in November 2023."

When they meet at Guardsman Tony Downes House in Droylsden, the panel have been given a recommendation to approve the outline application once again, subject to conditions. If this is granted again the council will still need further planning permission before building work can start.

The panel will also decide on two more matters at the meeting. One is a three-storey building for 12 new apartments on Wellington Street in Ashton. The other matter is an application for a 35-home affordable housing plan on the old Denton Swimming Baths off Victoria Street.