Bury: Reaction amid consultation on plans for 4,750 homes

Guidance on how the council wants to see sites at Elton Reservoir and Walshaw developed is to be consulted on in October.

The Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan (PfE), identifies the two sites for new housing, but the plan says that any planning applications for development must be in line with a masterplan that has been approved by the council.

The masterplans must be planned in a manner that includes all the necessary supporting infrastructure, such as new roads, education and healthcare provision, walking and cycling routes and recreation space.

The council has said the masterplans will also ensure that wildlife and heritage interests are fully considered, with each site achieving at least a 10 per cent net gain in biodiversity and that there is a strategy in place to deal with any wider environmental issues such as flood risk.

The Elton site has been allocated for 3,500 homes over the next 15 years.

Infrastructure plans include new access and through roads, two primary schools, a secondary school, a new Metrolink stop and community buildings.

In Walshaw, where 1,250 homes are planned near Scobell Street over the same period, the infrastructure includes a new primary school and road improvements.

The council has produced a draft supplementary planning document which was agreed this week by the council’s cabinet.

There will now be a six-week consultation starting in mid-October with details to be posted on the council’s website soon.

A consultation on the plans will be launched in mid-October (Image: LDRS) The Local Democracy Reporting Service visited the Elton site and asked those taking a walk there about the plans.

Even on a wet and and cold Thursday afternoon, the paths and tracks around the Elton reservoir are dotted with walkers.

The vast green area, known to locals as "Elton Raz" provides links between Radcliffe and Bury and includes a 2.6km circular trail around the reservoir taking around 40 minutes to complete.

Bury born and bred John Butterworth, 44, lives on nearby Farm Crescent and was out for a walk with his dog Maggie.

He said: “I’m against this amount of development on a green area. I always have been.

“The amount of 3,500 is way too many houses for this area.

“The open space is well used and enjoyed by loads of people.

“I agree that once the building starts there should be strict conditions on infrastructure and they have to be enforced.”

John Butterworth with his dog Maggie

Alison Derby, 57, is a keen walker and visits the area frequently for walks.

She said: “It’s therapeutic for me to walk here, even on a rainy day like today.

“It’s quiet and peaceful, I avoid walking near roads because of the noise.

“It’s beyond me how such a beautiful area can be allocated for housing.

"To me once it’s green belt it should be green belt forever.

“All avenues for building houses on brownfield sites should be used.”

Alison Derby walks regularly in the area

Gemma Elliott, 28, and her sister Ashley, 30, have recently moved to the area and were out with their dog, Peaches.

Gemma, said: “For people of our age trying to get on the property ladder has been a massive struggle.

“It’s just getting harder and harder for younger people to get their own homes.

“I think something has to change for the next generation and if the supply of homes goes up with a big push on building them then hopefully that will make them more affordable.

“I think strict conditions should be in place for any development like this with affordable rents and prices and an good amount of green open space and walking routes must be included in the plans.”

Ashley and Gemma Elliott were walking near the Elton site

Speaking after the cabinet agreed the draft supplementary planning document, Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, council leader and cabinet member for strategic growth, said: “Places for Everyone is about much more than houses.

"It is essential that the infrastructure is there to create a proper community, whether that’s roads or schools.

“These planning guidance documents will set out in detail what developers must include, and pay for, if and when they wish to build new homes.

“I encourage everyone to take part in the consultation when it takes place in October.”