Controversial plan for new homes behind an industrial warehouse branded ‘unsafe’

A view of the Roaches site off Manchester Road in Mossley. Image courtesy of Tameside Council

Plans for new homes at the back of an industrial warehouse has been rejected after being branded ‘unsafe’.

According to Tameside Council planning officers, a proposal for 17 new homes on the edge of Mossley would create a “poor standard of living”.

Its mix of semi-detached and detached homes would have been accessed via a route into Roaches industrial estate, which an objector described as unsafe for normal vehicles. 

The homes were planned to go right behind Acorn Works on what is currently used as space for caravan storage. 

Harry Cyprus, who owns a number of industrial units off Manchester Road, says he would not accept access an a road dominated by HGVs and industrial vans.

Appearing at the planning panel meeting on January 15, he said: “I will not agree to access off my road.

"It will result in a loss of land for the use of businesses in the area.  

"It is not a safe site to introduce any further vehicles to what is already an overused road.”

Mossley Town Council also opposed the scheme, claiming the loss of employment land in the area would be detrimental, a concern the council’s planning officers shared. 

Coun Tafheen Sharif, who represents the Mossley ward, said in objection: “The development will be built on land previously occupied by gas works, and I understand a planning application was refused many years ago for caravans for residential purposes, due to contamination concerns.

“I consider there is still a risk to human health. Concrete, Japanese Knotweed, asbestos and former storage tanks potentially impacting soil with methane, benzene, naphthalene and ethanol still likely to be in the ground are just a few of the concerns.”

The applicants, named as Mrs A Jones and Mrs A Bradbury, were not present at the meeting in Droylsden to make their case. 

The planning panel unanimously refused the application.

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