A colossal scheme to build 1,550 homes has been earmarked for green fields just off the M60. The villages of Simister and Bowlee offer a rural lifestyle for local residents, surprisingly located next to one of the north west’s busiest motorway junctions – Simister Island. Sat right on the Bury/Rochdale border, the 98 hectares of farmland will effectively be transformed into a new village.
Plans for the new village
A new ‘local centre’, a primary school, bus routes, cycle ways and footpaths have all been touted for the project. The site would be delivered over several years and split into three parts – north, south and east, bisected by Heywood Old Road (the A6045). The southern parcel is expected to deliver around 800 homes, with 550 in the north and 200 in the east.
The ‘countryside beauty’ would be maintained throughout the site, according to the development framework, with green spaces and ‘pocket parks’ lining the walking and cycling routes throughout. The development framework claims this ‘active travel’ network would stretch as far as Heaton Park and link the site to surrounding towns and villages such as Simister next door, Middleton and Prestwich. Transport links to the impending Atom Valley development zone is also on the cards – offering connection to the estimated 20,000 new jobs.
Northern Gateway and transport links
Thousands more homes and the creation of vast amounts of industrial/work space is part of the major overhaul in the north eastern section of Greater Manchester. In Bury, Elton Reservoir is set to gain 3,500 new homes, with a further 1,250 planned for Walshaw. Including Simister Bowlee, this would total 6,300 new homes around the area. With this in mind, new transport links are seen as key to connecting the new homes to what is expected to become the largest and most accessible employment and innovation hubs in the region, driving substantial investment into Greater Manchester.
The latest development framework has set out how Simister Bowlee would fit into the wider plan for the region – called the Northern Gateway. Like many of the areas targeted in the Northern Gateway scheme, the site is not well served by public transport. It is expected to benefit from the proposed Metrolink extension to Middleton, but that is possibly decades away. Road infrastructure improvements; bus route enhancements; and the creation of cycle and pedestrian routes would be created initially. The connections across the Atom Valley area would be expected to be established through a new Metrolink tram extension to Middleton and further afield after two decades of development. The tram-train would be a new public transport vehicle that could travel on both rail lines and tram tracks, without being connected to the overhead lines.
Local opposition and concerns
Naturally, there is huge local objection to the major scheme. This is because 1,550 homes are going to be plonked between Simister and Bowlee. Residents of Simister Lane, just off Heywood Old Road, are either up in arms or resigned to their fate. None are keen on the scheme being pushed forward by Rochdale and Bury councils but feel they are fighting a losing battle. The Simister Bowlee Residents for Safety Coalition (SBRS) were already aggrieved by the scale of the Atom Valley scheme. So when they learned of plans to build 1,550 homes in their back yard to support the giant project – it was a step too far. Overdevelopment without the local infrastructure is their biggest concern. With congestion on the roads already bad, GP waiting lists being long and poor public transport connections – SBRS feel adding hundreds of new homes before this is sorted could cause carnage.
Council vision for the site
The Simister Bowlee framework document said: “Simister Bowlee will help address Greater Manchester’s acute housing and affordability crisis by delivering a diverse mix of homes for all life stages, supported by essential community facilities, a new primary school, accessible green spaces and improved transport infrastructure. “Located across Bury and Rochdale, this neighbourhood will become a place for future generations to live, work, and play. The Simister Bowlee site will provide the key components for a sustainable and successful neighbourhood.
“Our vision is to create an attractive and safe place where people feel a strong sense of belonging, both for new residents and the surrounding communities. “The site will feature a mixed-use Local Centre that fosters community life. The facilities will be tailored to the needs of the community and could include local shops, health facilities, community space, growing gardens, and green parks, creating spaces for everyday living, social interaction, and shared experiences. “The new neighbourhood will embrace sustainability as a way of life. Green spaces will be welcoming and accessible to all, while an integrated landscape strategy will respond to the area’s character, enhancing biodiversity and visual appeal. “Nature will be interwoven throughout the community, including meadows, a river corridor, ponds and managed woodlands that will support wildlife, provide access to the countryside, and offer opportunities for recreation, environmental learning, and well-being.”
