Plans provisionally granted for 49 affordable homes at Norden's Shepperd Mill

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

Former Shepperd Mill/Tack Lea Works site, Norden, Rochdale

Planning permission has been granted to build 49 affordable homes on the former Shepperd Mill and Tack Lea Works site in Norden – subject to approval from the Secretary of State.

Rochdale Borough Council’s Planning Committee voted in favour of granting the outline planning permission for the homes.

However, the application has to be referred to the Secretary of State because a small part of land – which is divided by Woodhouse Lane Brook – lies within the green belt.

If the Secretary of State does not ‘call in’ the application for determination, planning permission will be granted subject to conditions in the application.

The proposals, lodged by Empire House Piccadilly Ltd, Stonebond Properties (Manchester) Limited and Great Places Housing Group include a mixture of house types, including semi-detached and terraces.

Initially plans submitted were for 56 three- and four-bedroom homes, but this has changed to 49 two-, three- and four-bedroom properties, with one to two car parking spaces each.

The land is currently occupied by the vacant and partially derelict buildings of the former Tack Lea Works.

Vehicles would access the site via the former entrance of the former Shepperd Mill site, opposite Blackpits Road.

Developers also say they would include landscaping, such as tree planting, areas of native shrub and hedge planting and a wildflower meadow.

“Existing woodland will be retained wherever possible to minimise landscape and visual effect,” developers say whilst “Promotion of ecological diversity and habitat creation through the incorporation of the planting of native and wildlife-friendly trees, shrubs and wildflower meadow, hibernacula, and bat and bird boxes.”

Ten votes were cast in favour of approval with one against and one abstention.

The planning committee met at Number One Riverside on 23 November.