Campaigners in Mossley are continuing their fight against a 175-home development that was approved last month, citing new evidence of protected species on the site and planning a potential legal challenge.
Wain Homes secured planning permission for its 'executive' homes on land off Huddersfield Road from Tameside council's planning panel on July 22. The decision followed a split vote of five to four, which sparked anger in the public gallery at Droylsden's Guardsman Tony Downes House.
Campaigners cite protected species evidence
Protect Mossley's Wildlife (PMW), a group of objectors, says the planned development would wipe out wetlands, shrubbery, grasslands and the vast amount of inhabiting wildlife. Among lapwings, a barn owl, deer and other protected birds, they claim to have found a great crested newt on the site – a protected species.
Campaigner Jessica Mawdesley admitted their latest petition is a 'last ditch effort' to get the scheme scrapped. She said: "There has been more recent evidence of protected species. We are trying to make people aware of that and get public backing. Our campaign petition already has more than 1,400 signatures."
Mawdesley suggested that if construction work started with the great crested newt on site it would be a criminal act. Wain Homes has disputed the evidence of the newts, but said if any are found, proper measures will be taken during construction.
Developer disputes newt evidence
The developer claims the last record of the great crested newt on the site was in 1990. A spokesperson for Wain Homes said: "Recent surveys have not identified any evidence of great crested newts and there is only one historic record from 1990 approximately one mile from the site, so we do not believe great crested newts are present. However, an Ecological Clerk of Works will be appointed to monitor works on site throughout construction."
"If great crested newts are identified, appropriate measures will be implemented in accordance with all relevant legislation and guidance," the spokesperson added.
The campaigners have called for an independent environmental and ecological survey to be done to challenge the one paid for by Wain Homes. Mawdesley said: "These wildlife surveys done by Wain Homes, it is in their interest not to find anything. There is a vested interest there."
Concerns over traffic and flooding
When the plan was put before the planning panel, councillors were more worried about flooding and roads impact risks than wildlife concerns. A number of panel members felt Huddersfield Road was already a bad traffic hotspot – which this scheme could worsen.
Coun Allan Hopwood said: "We are building all over the borough but we are not improving the infrastructure. It's a really bad place for traffic and we are just adding to that."
Wain Homes' planning agent Gareth Salthouse explained that the scheme had not caused concern for the authorities that look after highways or flooding issues. His promise of a play area, footpaths linking to surrounding green space, and 'linear open green space' was convincing enough for the panel to approve.
Legal challenge considered
PMW strongly believes the potential impact the development could have on the greenspace could justify the high court overturning the decision. Mawdesley added: "We are also trying to raise money for a legal challenge. We expect it would cost around £5,500 to fund that. The group is willing to go down that route if necessary."
The group has also called on local councillors and other concerned Mossley residents to get involved. They believe Huddersfield Road is far too busy as it is and that the local school is oversubscribed.
Beyond the site's ecological value, campaigners feel these fields provide recreational areas for families, mental health benefits, and an intrinsic community identity.
A spokesperson for Wain Homes added: "We plan to start construction soon, although a start date has not yet been confirmed. The scheme has been carefully designed to protect habitats of ecological value, while also creating and enhancing new areas of habitat. Planning conditions require measures such as protecting retained habitats and watercourses during construction, ecological supervision, appropriate lighting controls, invasive species management, and the long-term management and monitoring of retained and newly created habitats for 30 years."
Around £400,000 would also be provided by the developer for the council to spend on improving local infrastructure. The planning panel was told last month that an estimated 200 jobs would be created by the development during the construction phase.
Some 26 of the houses would be affordable (priced up to 80 per cent of market rate) – just under 15 per cent of the total number of homes, which is the minimum threshold set by Tameside council.
The next steps for the campaign group would be to mount a legal challenge to stop the development going ahead. They are currently in contact with the council to raise their concerns over ecological surveys before they decide on whether to take further action.
