Environment Agency objects to planned 77-home estate on land between two rivers due to lack of flood risk plan

Saturday, 20 September 2025 16:15

By Chris Gee

Revised plans have been lodged for a ‘new neighbourhood’ of 77 flats and houses for an area between two rivers.

This month, Westchurch Homes have scaled back the number of homes for the proposed development off Dumers Lane, close to the Bealey Industrial
Estate, Radcliffe, which initially sought 87 homes at the site.

In documents lodged in support of the plans, the site is described a mix of hard-standing yards for bus and vehicle storage, industrial buildings, a car wash and forecourt and ‘a patchwork of unmanaged neutral grassland, bramble scrub and scattered self-seeded trees’.

There are also existing houses along the south-eastern frontage of the site across from Dumers Lane and the site is also close to two rivers, the Irwell and Croal.

Westchurch said they plan to build a combination of flats, terraced, detached and semi-detached housing.

Earlier this year, the Environment Agency (EA) responded to the plans saying that ‘in the absence of an acceptable flood risk assessment we object to this
application and recommend that planning permission is refused’.

However, in a response to the EA comments, the developer said that the EA had not taken account that the site is located in an area that benefits from the recently built Radcliffe and Redvales Flood Alleviation Scheme which provides defence against flooding.

They added: “However, the flood maps for planning unfortunately do not yet reflect the fact that this flood alleviation scheme has been constructed
and we understand through consultation with the EA, that the flood maps for planning are unlikely to be updated until sometime later this year.

“The flood maps for planning are therefore not representative of the current situation and portray a worst case scenario than currently exists.”

The plans include 142 parking spaces for residents and their visitors.

The developer said: “The site is considered to be in a sustainable location for housing within the urban area and sitting outside the green belt.”

Comments and objections on the application will be accepted by the council until September 22 before planners at Bury Council consider the plans.