Tameside Council has agreed to sell land in Droylsden to push forward with a 192-home housing development next to Droylsden Marina. The executive cabinet approved the sale agreement at a meeting on October 28, which is needed to bring the scheme forward.
Land sale and revised terms
The council agreed to sell the former Droylsden Library and Lock Keepers Site to True North Partnerships last year so a new waterfront neighbourhood could be built. Since then, developers have examined the land and found abnormal ground conditions, finance boss Coun Hugh Roderick explained at the town hall meeting.
As a result, the price, which was not made publicly available, had to be re-negotiated. Two extra plots of land next to Manchester Road and the marina, on each side of the site, have also been added to the deal.
Development plans and affordable homes
Planning permission has been requested for three apartment buildings and a series of duplex homes at ground level, arranged to maximise natural light and views across the Marina, Ashton Canal and towards the Pennines and Manchester city centre.
All the homes will be available for affordable rates, up to 80 per cent of market value, according to developers CERT and True North Partnerships. The scheme forms part of a wider masterplan from the local authority to regenerate Droylsden.
Deputy leader Coun Andrew McLaren said: “I think this shows how serious we are about Droylsden.”
Concerns over traffic and parking
Coun Teresa Smith wanted to see residents’ concerns about traffic congestion addressed. Coun Laura Boyle, a local Droylsden councillor, said she has been contacted by residents about this issue. She raised concerns about the increase in size of the scheme from 160 homes to 192 and questioned how traffic congestion will be managed given only 36 parking spaces are included. The council officer at the meeting said he would share these concerns with the developer.
One objector to the scheme is Celia Poole, who lives in Bridgewater House, next to the proposed project site. When the vision was first revealed earlier this year, she was shocked by the scale of the plans, given the site is only 0.93 hectare, saying it was triple the expected size.
She said previously: “The consultation saw over 90 responses submitted. To have that many submissions but having no change is very surprising. The scale is the main issue. There are 192 homes planned on a small plot. Parking infrastructure is also a problem.”
“Many people were talking about the move to more sustainable transport methods starting. But in reality to have 192 homes and have 36 parking spaces isn’t going to work. It’s unrealistic. It doesn’t make sense. If even a quarter of those homes have people with young children they won’t be able to go without a car.”
Now the land sale has been approved by the executive cabinet, the next step would be a decision on the planning permission. If approval is granted, work could start as soon as March 2027.
