Plans for Godley Green 'garden village' given final sign-off as Housing Secretary Michael Gove says he won't intervene

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Plans for a controversial new 2,000-home 'garden village' in Tameside have been given a final green light after the government announced it would not be intervening.

The proposed development on Godley Green in Hyde, would be split by Godley Brook across two east and west villages, each with their own ‘local centres’ which would include up to 1,300 sqm of retail space, 1,600 sqm of commercial and 1,000 sqm of local community uses.

Up to 2,150 homes would be built on countryside and pastureland north of Mottram Old Road over a 15-year period. Locals have been fighting the proposals for years and there were more than 4,000 objections and an additional petition with almost 4,500 signatures lodged against the development lodged prior to a meeting of Tameside Council's planning committee earlier this month. READ MORE: Campaigners win fight to save historic area from plans to build 'unattractive' and 'overbearing' high-rise tower READ MORE: Sir Bobby Charlton memorial service updates as city says farewell to Manchester United legend However, nine out of 10 councillors on the committee backed the plans, saying the benefits of the development would outweigh the impact of building on the Green Belt.

Following the internal approval, the council submitted the plans to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) who could decided to 'call-in' the application.