A CONTROVERSIAL development to build 1,000 homes on green belt land at Mosley Common have been approved following a six-hour session of the town’s planning committee.
Peel L&P’s proposal got the go-ahead in the face of a 4,000-name petition, 600 objections and opposition from local councillors.
At the planning meeting on Friday, January 19, there was applause from the packed public gallery as one of the objectors to the plan, a resident of the area for 30 years Phil Woodward, spoke to the committee.
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Mr Woodward accused Wigan’s planning officers of being ‘obsessed’ with getting the plan approved. “There’s been more consultation with developers than with the general public,” he said.
“There has been a 4,000-name petition and 600 people have submitted objections to the planning authority.”
Mr Woodward claimed there was ‘no demand’ for the extra housing saying that building on the 100 per cent green belt land was ‘completely inappropriate’
He that the Greater Manchester masterplan ‘Places for Everyone’ which sets out development objectives in the city region for the next 15 years, and which has earmarked Mosley Common for inclusion, has yet to be accepted by Wigan Council.
“There’s no rush for the houses to be built as we already have six years of housing supply in the borough,” said Mr Woodward.
“People are worried about how they will get to work already on our congested roads and how their children will get into local schools and how they will get into doctors’ surgeries.”
He finished amid loud applause from the public by saying: “Please make the right decision. Our lives depend on it.”
The development will take shape on both sides side of the Leigh guided busway now that a full planning application has been given the thumbs up for the first 200 homes on land off Mort Lane, where there will also be public open space, children’s play areas and improvements to footpaths and cycleways.
Outline permission – meaning more detailed plans will come forward later – for a further residential development with access off City Road, including a new bus stop and travel hub on the guided busway, bars and restaurants, takeaway, more parkland and children’s play space and further enhancements on footpaths and cycleways was also granted.
Some 25 per cent of the homes will be affordable, in line with Wigan Council’s policy of pressing for a minimum level of such properties when considering new developments.
Moving approval, Coun Susan Greensmith alluded to the huge public interest in the scheme, and addressing the public gallery she said: “We do take these planning applications very seriously.
“We study them at home and we get the chance to talk about them here in the council chamber. We take everything into consideration.
“I can’t find anything in this application to go against.”
Her Labour colleague Laura Flynn added: “I understand the difficulties it will create in this area, but I think this is a very strong application.
“There are 25pc affordable homes, and it’s really positive because it’s in a sustainable location with the guided busway running right through it. I know road traffic is a consideration for local people, but there is a guided busway for people to use.
“The loss of the green belt is a negative but we are in a very difficult situation.”
However, Independent Network Coun James Fish argued that development on green belt land should not be approved ‘except in very special circumstances’.
“I’m not satisfied that those very special circumstances have been met,” he said. “I would recommend that we refuse the applications on the grounds that it would be inappropriate development on green belt land.”
He praised the officers’ detailed report regarding both applications because is was not trying to hide the fact that there would be ‘moderate harm to the green belt’ should it be approved.”
His colleague Coun Stuart Gerrard agreed with him, saying: “This application only partially satisfies the criteria for building on green belt land. It’s going to create havoc in the area.
“The schools in the area are struggling to accommodate the pupils as it is.”
Coun Gerrard, the Independent Network representative for Atherton North, warned that the development would merge the communities of Mosley Common with neighbouring Salford.
“It’s just not right,” he said. “We will end up with a concrete jungle by the time we’ve finished.”
However Couns Fish and Gerrard were the only two councillors who voted against both the full planning application and the outline proposal and was approved.
It was conditional on funding from Peel for the A580/Mosley Common Road improvement scheme and a financial contribution to the extension of St John’s church of England Mosley Common Primary School.
There will also be a £2.4million inject from Peel for secondary education places in Atherton and Tyldesley, and £2,500 towards ‘travel plans’ for residents.
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