Fears have been raised that WWII bombs could lie buried under green belt land in Oldham where a developer wants to build homes. The concerns were voiced at an Oldham council planning committee meeting on September 23 by Failsworth councillor Andrew Brooks, as councillors decided to reject plans for 68 new homes off Failsworth Road.
Green belt site and affordable homes proposal
The site is entirely in the green belt. If approved, the development would have taken place across the northern part of the site while the southern section would be preserved except for the removal of invasive species. All of the homes would be classed as affordable, and two people supported the proposal by Redwaters Estates and Redwaters Fitfield. However, there were 623 objections with many concerns raised.
Council recommendation and opposition
Oldham council officers had recommended refusal on the grounds it is 'inappropriate development within the Green Belt', adding: "The applicant has failed to demonstrate that adequate vehicular access to the development has been made and this will lead to the manoeuvring of vehicles, generated by the development, within the adjacent highways to the detriment of safety of pedestrians and other highway users."
The plans faced opposition from local resident Steve Whitehead, who said hundreds had rallied against the plan and accused the application of being speculative. Labour councillor Ken Rustidge criticised the plans and argued there was no urgent need to develop the site.
Wartime ammunition concerns
Reform councillor Andy Brooks said the plans would disturb wildlife such as deer, owls, and kestrels. However, he said 'the possibility of historic wartime ammunition' beneath the land needed proper consideration. He added: "We know that Greater Manchester contains land with a long industrial and wartime history. There is credible historical evidence that wartime activity took place in and around these locations."
The councillor said the area had been 'heavy targets for bombers' and munitions were dumped over Failsworth, Daisy Nook, Woodhouses, Droylsden. He asked for it to be established exactly what was underneath the land.
Applicant's response and other decisions
Stephen Harris, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the land was classified grey belt and questioned how much housing the council could provide in the long term. Pointing to a past declaration by the local authority of a housing crisis in the borough, he said elected members cannot 'think everything's great [and] everyone's provided with a home'. He added: "If providing 68 family homes for people in affordable need in Oldham currently isn't a very special circumstance, I don't know what is."
At the same meeting, councillors also decided to reject a HMO plan on Long Lane in Chadderton due to highway safety concerns, opposed by a nursery next door and Coun Graham Shuttleworth. At Southlink in Oldham town centre, Vistry Group sought permission to build 147 homes to the south of the A62 Oldham Way and Oldham Mumps Metrolink tram stop, on land jointly owned by Oldham Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. All 147 homes will be classed as affordable, provided in partnership with First Choice Homes Oldham with a mix of tenures. This was approved, as were plans for a new restaurant in Chadderton.
