A huge new canalside housing development will be built in Rochdale – despite locals raising concerns.
A huge new canalside housing development will be built in Rochdale – despite locals raising concerns.
A total of 158 homes are now destined for the 4.96 hectare site known as Trub Farm off Manchester Road. MCI Developments will take the long stretch of land bounded by Rochdale Canal, just a short distance from Castleton, and transform it into a residential space.
The only access to the homes would come from Trub Road, via a bridge and walkway over the canal to allow pedestrians to join the existing connection onto the canal footpath.
Objectors from the estate opposite the site, present at the latest Rochdale Council planning committee meeting, feared the plan could create traffic havoc; represent overdevelopment for the area; and put further pressure on health services and school places.
“My main issue is safety,” one resident told the committee on July 31. “That bridge to access the site is used by dog walkers and parents pushing prams.
“There is a blind bend off the bridge. There are going to be traffic issues there from day one of development.”
The build up of traffic on Trub Road could also create rat runs, objector Rachael Taylor explained.
Referencing another 445-home development in Castleton recently approved, Ms Taylor added: “Look at how many houses are being built in Castleton. The infrastructure is just not there for it.”
Paul Chandler-King, an agent speaking behalf of the developer said roads around the homes will be slowed to improve safety. He added that the access bridge will be widened and strengthened.
Mr Chandler-King told the committee: “The homes have been carefully designed to provide for local needs.”
All the homes – 110 houses and 48 apartments – will be available at an affordable rate (up to 80 per cent of market value).
The houses will all have private gardens and surround public open space as well as a children’s play park. There will be 24 two-bedroom apartments and another 24 three-bedroom apartments.
The remainder will be provided as family-sized homes as a mixture of detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses with three, four and five bedrooms. There is also a proposed stairway to the north of the site, leading up to the canal, which will allow easy connections to Castleton.
Councillors on the committee were concerned by the access to the home via the bridge. Coun Peter Winkler felt a blockage of the bridge would mean emergency service vehicles couldn’t get to the development.
No objections were submitted by the fire service in regard to the plans, the meeting heard.
The demand for housing in the borough was the key persuasion that got planning permission approved by a majority decision on the night.
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