Rochdale council's planning committee is set to make a final decision on Thursday, October 22, on Wain Homes' plan to build 45 houses on former playing fields in Bamford.
The committee deferred the decision in August, saying it did not have enough detail about drainage from the developers. The site, to the west of Norden Road, has a history of flooding, and councillors wanted to ensure proper precautions were taken.
Part of a larger scheme
This scheme is the first phase of a much larger development for the former green belt land, which contains a number of playing fields and sports pitches. The Bamford site was removed from green belt status after the adoption of the Greater Manchester housing strategy, Places for Everyone.
The overarching scheme would see 450 houses built on the land. A new clubhouse for Bridge FC and revamped sports pitches within the site are seen as the major benefits of the wider project.
Access and objections
The plan would create access through the demolition of Chadwick Farm Barn on Greenvale, with a T-junction providing vehicle access to the site.
At the meeting on August 5, objectors also raised concerns that there was no safeguarding in place for how transport connectivity, drainage, highways, and local amenities would work across the whole site.
Planning agent Gareth Salthouse, representing Wain Homes, said drainage for the site had been assessed and that the plan could be done quickly to bring 'much-needed housing' to the area.
Concerns over piecemeal development
The committee also worried about the lack of an overall masterplan. Coun Tom Besford feared that 'piecemeal development' would see each developer do the bare minimum of affordable homes for each plot, and that all the benefits might not come to fruition.
Coun Besford said: "Why would we go through the blood, sweat and tears of getting PfE over the line but then just give this land away. We have to assume that we could get 10 other plans like this."
"Then what if it doesn't add up and everything falls short overall."
The committee agreed to defer the decision based on questions over drainage. They will reconvene on Thursday, October 22, to make a final decision on the scheme.
