Housing plans that ‘threaten the whole identity’ of a Rochdale village have sparked outrage among green belt campaigners. Proposals for 450 new ‘family homes’ in Norden and Bamford have long been included in Places for Everyone (PfE) - the region’s controversial joint development plan, now awaiting government sign-off.
While land between Norden Road and Jowkin Lane is earmarked for development, the blueprint also stipulates that the area’s sports pitches and facilities should be ‘retained and significantly enhanced’ as part of a ‘high quality, integrated development’. Property giant Peel last year launched a consultation on plans for a ‘sports hub’ at the site, declaring that recreation lay ‘at the heart’ of its ambitions for the area.
But it has since emerged that the developer is considering a scheme that departs from what is now set out in the PfE masterplan. Documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) show that houses could be built on existing football pitches in the areas.
