A controversial plan for a new 1,100 community in Wigan has been given the go-ahead.
Close to parts of Salford - and 'embedded in existing woodland and moss land' - the Mosley Common masterplan includes 1,100 homes; improved transport links; and a total £155m investment in the area. The decision to approve the proposals was called in back in July following numerous objections from residents and councillors.
But now the original decision has been upheld by the portfolio holder for planning, environmental services and transport Paul Prescott.
READ MORE: Residents left without gas or electricity after 'shocking' flat fire
Developer Peel L&P plans on creating a ‘new community’ with a mix of homes including affordable housing; parklands; a transport hub and 200 new jobs. A key aspect of the proposal included a travel hub which would be developed in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester to give residents easy access to the Leigh guided busway.
This runs through the scheme with commuter routes to Manchester and beyond, but has come under scrutiny in recent months due to lack of capacity - which Atherton councillor Stuart Gerrard, who called in the decision, believes is a major issue.
The length of consultation, timing and process of the consultations, school capacity issues and the local road network were also cited as issues by Coun Gerrard as reasons to reassess this decision. Despite that, Coun Prescott was satisfied with the consultation period granted by Peel and the expansion of St John’s Mosley Common Primary School would see adequate coverage of pupil places.
The land in question forms part of the green belt which is allocated for housing development in the emerging Places for Everyone. This is the city-region's strategy for housing, jobs and the environment until 2037 and it will undergo a public examination later this year.
This PfE proposal as well as this 1,100 home community scheme are the subject of opposition and a petition against this already has more than 700 signatures. Local campaigner and Mosley Common resident Andy Brown started the petition after an uproar in the community over this plan.
Peel have said that space would be available in the travel hub for local retailers, community events and classes as well as a network of footpaths and cycleways would improve access to Walkden train station and the site’s overall links to key transport routes. The development would also feature ‘sports and play facilities and a new green corridor to bring ecological improvements to the area connecting people to nature and three new parks’.
Annabel Partridge, Peel L&P’s Associate Director of Development Planning said: “Our masterplan is a framework for the future development of Mosley Common which has been earmarked for new homes as part of Greater Manchester’s Places for Everyone strategy. The Council’s renewed endorsement of the masterplan reflects the site’s status in this plan and the important contribution that it can make towards addressing Greater Manchester’s housing crisis, whilst providing better transport infrastructure and amenities for the local community.
“We’ve always said that more detail around the plans will be part of a later planning application and we look forward to undertaking further community consultation so we can work closely with local residents to help shape the detail of the final plans. We’re pleased to be able to move forward again with a scheme that represents a significant investment in Wigan.”
The next stage for Peel would be a full planning application where they say they will address the issues of the road infrastructure ‘in more detail’.
READ NEXT:
