Housing estate could be built in 'beautiful' valley

Nearly 200 homes could be built in a "beautiful" valley as part of a major development that includes a new tram stop.

Barratt Homes Manchester have asked Oldham Council to approve up to 192 homes at Birshaw Farm in the Beal Valley, Oldham, Greater Manchester.

It forms part of wider plans for the area, which includes around 2,000 homes, as well as other infrastructure. There is also a new road planned from Ripponden Road to Oldham Road, as well as a new Metrolink stop at Broadbent Moss.

The scheme is part of the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone scheme, which aims to oversee house building, create jobs, and protect the regions's green belt land from unplanned development.

The new homes would be built about three miles north of Oldham town centre and includes an area of greenfield land on the edge of Royton.

The development will include wetland landscapes, green spaces, as well as accessible walking and cycling routes according to the plans.

Despite the loss of farmland to development, a report said the development will keep "existing woodland and mature tree groupings to establish a distinctive landscape character" with an aim to plant 551 new trees.

The vision is to "create welcoming, well-connected neighbourhoods that feel part of the existing communities in Shaw, Royton, Heyside and Barrowshaw," the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Developers also said the project would deliver 100 direct construction jobs and £36.7m of gross value added to the area.

If the homes are built, they said an extra £5.5m would be spent by the homes each year with an extra £500,000 of council tax revenue.

However, concerns have already been raised in a number of comments on Oldham's planning portal.

One person said: "Long-standing residents like my husband and me have intentionally stayed here for over 30 years precisely because of the strong community cohesion and the exceptional greenery of the Beal Valley.

"By sacrificing this irreplaceable landscape for developer profit, the council is actively destroying the very assets that make Oldham a desirable place to live," they said.

"If you take this away, there is no reason for dedicated residents to stay."

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