Property Press Online

With the conservative party pledging in their winning 2019 manifesto to build 300,000 new homes by mid 2020s, councils have already been looking into new housing developments. This week, we take a look into the Tameside borough.

Across Greater Manchester, there have been many proposals put across to boroughs for housing. Recently the borough of Tameside have listened to housing plans to be built on top of the former Hartshead Secondary School.

As a borough, Tameside stretches across towns such as Ashton-Under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Hyde and Denton. These new houses would be built close to the town of Ashton-Under-Lyne.

Despite many objections to the build and the fears that children would have nowhere to ‘kick a ball’, it looks like the plans are going ahead.

According to Place North West, there have been plans from Barratt Homes, Onward Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Scout Green that have all been sent to approval by the council. The plans would enable construction of 325 new homes in the area.

Objections to the development

There has already been an overwhelming of complaints made about the new houses. Already, there has been over fifty objections by locals to the plans. Many of the complaints were made about how the current field are being used. Locals have stated that the field is used for dog walkers, children and those who like to keep fit.

Adding to the argument is how Ashton Hurst (where the site would be) is the only area in Tameside without a public park. The loss of the playing field would make a loss of green space and neighbours would be left without an alternative.

These obligations have impacted the current council according to the Manchester Evening News. Apparently the committee for these plans is made up if ten committee members. Five believe that these houses should be built, the other five are against the plans.

Although, the chair of the committee (Coun David McNally) has the final deciding vote. He has decided to chosen to look ahead with the plans.

According to the current committee, there has been no significant impact from complaints and the site is perfectly suitable for residential development purposes.

When did the area become public fields?

Back in 2008, the secondary school (Hartshead High School) decided to merge with near by Stamford High School. The two schools then took up in the newly built school on Broadoak Road. Now, all that is left of the Hartshead High School is a concrete slab and some tarmac on part of the playing fields.

The site currently is split into two halves. One side by Greenhurst Road and the other with a footpath which leads to Knott Hill reservoir.

The Plans

Place North West state that Taylor Wimpey have plans to build 195 new homes on the site. Within the plan, there will be six one-bed apartments, six two-bedroom homes, a whopping a hundred and forty-three three-bedroom and finally thirty-five four-bed houses. According to Taylor Wimpey, 15% of the housing on the new estate would be affordable housing (thirty houses).