Bury: Villagers lament the loss of green belt to build 300 homes

However, during the coming years that balance will be challenged with up to 1,250 new homes due to be built on currently green belt land.

The re-designation of a swathe of green belt into housing land is included in the recently adopted Places For Everyone (PfE) masterplan, which sets out housebuilding targets for nine of the 10 Greater Manchester councils, including Bury, until 2039.

The first phase of Walshaw’s green belt development has come a step closer to fruition with developer Wain Estates preparing plans to build 300 homes on agricultural land opposite Church Street and Scobell Street.

The proposed development site for 300 homes in Walshaw (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Ahead of an outline planning application, Wain have submitted proposals to seek confirmation from the council that an environmental impact assessment is not required in respect of the proposed development of the Walshaw site.

The developer claims the environmental impact of developing the site has been previously explored within the PfE plan.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service visited Walshaw and spoke to residents whose homes and businesses are close to the site about their thoughts on the potential housing development.

Tara Charles, 37, said she bought her home on Scobell Street nine years ago because of its "beautiful views and closeness to green land".

Tara Charles said the nearby green space was the primary reason she bought her home

Tara, a nurse, said: “It was the deciding factor for us, the location, just look at the wonderful views.

“The fields across from our home are like the lungs of the area and it’s filled with wildlife, we often see deer and foxes. “It would be tragic to lose it and all the green space be lost.

“We’d probably have to consider whether we still wanted to stay here if all this development goes ahead.”

The lack of infrastructure and road congestion in the village were issues brought up almost universally by residents spoken to.

Dealing with this in their submission to the the council, Wain state that they would provide a new strategic through road on the estate to enable an alternative to Church Street, Bank Street and High Street.

They are also proposing a new one-form entry primary school, a community centre to serve purely local needs, and "green and blue infrastructure".

However business owner Keiran Morris, 35, claims the plans are "ill thought through".

Walshaw business owner Kieran Morris

He said: “The infrastructure just isn’t here to sustain such a huge development.

“I’m firmly of the belief that a full environmental impact assessment is needed to fully explore the harm to nature and biodiversity that this will cause.

“It’s the law that developers need one for schemes of more than 1,000 homes and this one will eventually be 1,250, that’s 25 per cent over the allowed amount.”

Retired gardener Keith Williamson, 77, has lived in Walshaw for his entire life.

Keith Williamson has lived his entire life in Walshaw

While waiting for a bus on Church Street, he said: “Look at this land. It’s lovely, the only nice thing kids see on their way to school every day.

“Generations of children and families have enjoyed it – the views and outdoor nature.

“I played there in the 1950s. At that time part of it was used as the cricket pitch for Walshaw.

“How heartbreaking that future generations and their children won’t be able to have that experience. It’ll be gone forever.”

Other areas of green belt land in Bury have also been allocated for housing in the Places for Everyone plan.

It allows for 3,500 homes to be built in the Elton reservoir area, 1,250 in Walshaw and 1,350 in the Simister and Bowlee area.

When the Council adopted Places For Everyone in March, council leader Eamonn O’Brien conceded it was a "decision which divides opinion and causes upset, concern and anger".

He said: “Disagreement on this issue does not mean dismissal of the points people make.

“We believe this plan must be adopted as our country faces one of the worst housing crises in modern history.

“Prices are unaffordable and supply too low- and landlord-ism replacing ownership.”

He said that "brownfield only" housing development was not the answer in Bury as there was not enough supply.

He said: “We must have a plan which addresses the lack of supply in housing.

“This plan does that while doing as much as it can to protect as much green belt as possible.”

Jean Lucas, 78, has lived in her home on Church Street for 42 years.

Jean Lucas said she was 'absolutely disgusted' with the development plans

The terrace where she lives on backs on to the development site and residents enjoy views which stretch for miles.

She said: “I think the decision to take it out of the green belt is an absolute disgrace.

“The area has been loved and used by people from the village for generations.

“When I was a girl in the 1950s I’d help make the teas for the cricketers.”

Jean also has concerns about increased traffic.

She said: “Over the years my car has been struck seven or eight times while parked outside. It was written off once.

“Hundreds of new houses mean hundreds of more cars on roads which can’t cope already.”

Her next door neighbour, Terry Riley, 74, also aired his feelings.

Terry Riley lives on Chruch Street

He said: “Nobody wants it.

“I love village life here, it’s close knit and caring but I fear that will change.

“I think the decision makers have no idea of the real issues and impact developments on this scale will have on the folk living here.”