Wain Estates Ltd plans to build 300 homes on outskirts of Bury

Ahead of submitting an outline planning application, housebuilder Wain Estates Ltd has asked the council whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is needed for the residential development off Church Street and Scobell Street in the Walshaw area.

The development is part of a wider allocation of green belt land in Walshaw for up to 1,250 homes included in the recently adopted Places for Everyone (PfE) plan which sets out housebuilding targets for nine of the 10 Greater Manchester councils until 2039. Stockport is the only area which is not included in that over-arching plan.

Wain Estates said the intention of the submission was to seek confirmation from the council that an ElA is not required in respect of the proposed development of the Walshaw site.

A map with the plans

They claim the environmental impact of developing the site has been previously explored within the PfE plan.

The report said: “The site is currently designated as green belt by Bury Council.

“However, the land is part of a strategic site allocation for development in the emerging Places for Everyone (PfE) plan.

“Therefore, assuming that the PfE is adopted, the site will be removed from the designated green belt and allocated for housing development.

“Other than the public footpaths, there is no permitted public access to the site.

“There is no notable woodland within the site, but there are four trees in the south-west corner of the site which are subject to tree preservation orders.

“These trees could be retained as part of the proposed development.

“The total wider allocation is for 1,250 dwellings and associated infrastructure, including the provision of a new a new strategic through road to enable an alternative to Church Street, Bank Street and High Street, a new one-form entry primary school, a new local centre to serve purely local needs, and green and blue infrastructure.”

The land in Walshaw

Wain Estates said a range of other technical documents relating to ecology, flood risk, drainage, ground conditions, the historic environment, landscape and visual impact, trees and utilities are included within the PfE plan evidence.

The report said: ”None of the reports indicate that development of the wider allocation is likely to result in significant environmental effects for the purpose of the ElA regulations.”

Wain have requested a response from the council on whether an an environmental impact assessment is needed within 21 days.

An outline planning application for the development is expected to follow once the decision is made.