Proposals for more than 65 homes on land around Saddleworth’s new high school are to go before councillors. The housing development would neighbour the new £27.5m Saddleworth School site, which opened in March last year.
The site was formerly partly occupied by Shaw Pallet Works which ceased trading in 2006, and has since been demolished. The rest of the land is used for farmland and grazing. An application for 77 homes on land to the east of Huddersfield Road, in Diggle, had been approved by Oldham’s planning committee last year but the plan from WRT Limited never materialised.
Now Redrow Homes Ltd has lodged new proposals for 64 houses and six apartments across two parcels of land. Nine of these would be classed as ‘affordable’.
The housing development would neighbour the new £27.5m Saddleworth School site, which opened in March last year. The houses would be split between detached and semi-detached houses, with rows of terraced homes also included.
There had been 15 objections over the plans, with people concerned that it would be a loss of open space, change the character of the village and pile more pressure on traffic on Huddersfield Road.
“Diggle is still considered to be a village, however, if development on this scale, were to be approved, the character and rural feel of the valley, would irrevocable changed to that of suburbia,” one objection states.
Saddleworth Parish Council has already recommended refusal. However the planning team at Oldham council are recommending approval, subject to the agreement of a Section 106 contribution of £365,736.80 for the enhancement of existing open space.
This would be split across Ward Lane pay area, Diggle Fields, Diggle Pond and Sunfield Avenue Play Area.
“It will provide a significant and positive contribution towards the council’s identified housing needs in a sustainable location,” the officers’ report adds.
The design and access statement on behalf of Redrow Homes states: “The development will create its own identify within the area, respecting the character of its surroundings. The scale and massing, architectural detailing and materiality of the proposed scheme fits in with the character of Diggle."
The application will go before councillors at a meeting on the evening of June 7.
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