The bitter housing development row like no other

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A leader’s promise to ‘ram’ a green belt scheme ‘down the throat’ of opposition members and a councillor stripping mid-meeting – few planning applications have ever been the source of such political pantomime.

But the Godley Green Garden Village proposal is no ordinary planning application. Since it was first included in the ill-fated Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) masterplan all the way back in 2016, green belt campaigners have been rallying against the proposals to create a new ‘garden village’ in the Hyde countryside.

Under the long-running plans, which are finally due to be voted on by Tameside councillors next week, up to 2,150 homes along with ‘local centres’ which would include up to 1,300 sq m of retail, 1,600 sq m of commercial uses and 1,000 sq m of local community uses, would be built on land to the north of Mottram Old Road. READ MORE: Greater Manchester borough's street lights will be dimmed to save cash - but 'you won't notice' READ MORE: Bury Market traders left devastated as they wake up to find their stalls shut after sudden closure Images produced in support of the application show new residents strolling among cobbled streets filled with timber-clad modernist houses, and gardens overflowing with attractively overgrown wildflowers, surrounded by trees and meadowland.

The garden village, which would neighbour Hyde and Hattersley; areas which have long struggled with deprivation, would have its own shops, restaurants and cafés, indoor sport and recreation facilities, medical and health services, nurseries, offices and pubs.