Campaigners vow to 'fight on' after Godley Green approval for more than 2,000 new homes in countryside
03.11.2023 - 12:31
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Campaigners opposing the construction of a huge new ‘garden village’ in Tameside’s countryside have vowed to fight on after it was approved by councillors.
Claire Elliott founded the Save Tameside Greenbelt group which has been fighting the Godley Green garden village since it was first mooted back in 2016. She was one of five objectors who made impassioned speeches against the major development of up to 2,150 homes at a planning meeting in Guardsman Tony Downes House in Droyslden.
At the meeting, nine out of ten councillors on the panel backed the application, which will now progress to the Secretary of State for final sign off. This was despite 4,205 objections and an additional petition of 4,459 signatures lodged against the development – compared to just 33 letters of support.
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The garden village will 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, 1,600 sqm of commercial uses and 1,000 sqm of local community uses. The thousands of homes would be built on countryside and pastureland north of Mottram Old Road over a 15 year period.
Speaking about the decision by the local authority to give the development the green light, Ms Elliott said: “It was expected, we thought it would be granted because it was their application. We stand to fight another day so hopefully the government can call it in or we can go down the lines of judicial review.
“The government have come out saying they basically want to protect the green belt so