Plan for 1,000 homes in Heywood takes step forward

Thursday, 22 January 2026 21:02

By George Lythgoe

CGI of a four-bed home proposed for the scheme

The next stage of plans for 1,000 more homes to Heywood has taken a step forward. A planning application for 186 houses to the plot of land off Hareshill Road North has been tabled with Rochdale council.

It’s is part of the wider scheme for hundreds of three, four and five bedroom family homes to the area. The South Heywood masterplan, which received outline approval in 2020, is expected to deliver 1.88 million sq ft of logistics space; a retail centre; a 2.2km link road; a primary school; sports pitches and neighbourhood play areas.

The giant scheme forms part of the Places for Everyone (PfE) plan, which has been adopted by nine out of 10 Greater Manchester councils. PfE is expected to bring thousands of jobs, new homes, and sustainable growth across the city-region by 2039.

Northstone, the developer, hasbought the plot of land on Hareshill Road North, between junctions 18 and 19 of the M66 motorway, and intend to drive forward this phase of the scheme. The sale was facilitated by Russell LDP, who successfully fronted the overall South Heywood masterplan.

This application would see the 186 homes built just off the new link road route, with public open space, a wild flower meadow and tree-lined streets all in the proposals.

Planning papers read: “At the heart of this proposal are the principles of good design, desirability and creating housing choice with the intent of creating a sustainable community where people want to live.

“The high quality architectural design will provide visually attractive and energy efficient homes, which are of an appropriate mix, layout and scale surrounded by effective landscaping.

“The proposed development will establish and maintain a strong sense of place, creating an attractive, welcoming and distinctive housing development which aims to reduce its impact on the environment and local ecosystems.

“The scheme is designed to be safe, inclusive and accessible while promoting health and well-being via the provision of generous sized private gardens and public open space and as such would be an asset to the local area.”

Northstone, part of the Peel Group, was launched by its parent company in 2018 to drive forward the delivery of its residential pipeline, to establish high design quality standards across new communities in the North West. Sustainability and energy efficiency are highlighted as their ‘key drivers’.