Group celebrates as houses plan shelved

Residents with councillors Dave Murphy and Diane Williamson celebrate the withdrawal of housing plans at Cowlishaw Green

RESIDENTS are overjoyed at the withdrawal of an application for a large housing development in Shaw.

A celebration took place after plans to build 125 houses on a "valued" green space in Cowlishaw were put on ice.

Developers Chorlton Planning said there were highway, environmental and planning issues which could not be resolved ahead of planning committee.

They added that no decision has yet been made as to whether a fresh application will be submitted.

Around 400 objections were lodged against the plans to demolish the abattoir at the 6.33 hectare site and build on land deemed "the last green space in Cowlishaw."

A committee, Keep Cowlishaw Green, was set up for residents to "fight on a united front" to save the Other Protected Open Land (OPOL), open land which preserves the distinctiveness of the area.

Co-chairperson Ken Watson of Greencroft Meadow, Royton, said: "We want to thank everyone, including our Liberal Democrat ward councillors and Fitton's, the abattoir owners, for responding to residents' concerns.

"We will now try to determine why the application even got to this stage."

The application to build on Cowlishaw Farm Abattoir was withdrawn in a letter dated Monday, September 5 from Chorlton Planning.

A celebratory gathering took place at High Crompton Conservative Club on Thursday though the committee has said it remains guarded.

Vice-chairman Tony Faulkner said: "I am so glad local people have come out in force again to save Cowlishaw from development and grateful to OMBC for listening to them and upholding OPOL policy."

The committee said: "It is celebrations for now, but our guard isn't down.

"Keep Cowlishaw Green will continue this campaign and be armed and ready for what comes next."

Sheina Burns, of Longfield Road, said: "I am overjoyed that the application for houses on Cowlishaw has been withdrawn.

"I feel very passionately about the possible loss of this lovely green land to a large housing development.

"Although celebrating a victory we feel that we must still be vigilant, as we have the fear that the developers may have withdrawn to perhaps regroup and attack in a different guise, getting around the planning problem by some other means.

"I just want our lovely green protected land left as it is."

During consultation events, concerns were raised over the effect that traffic generated by the development would have on the Cockermill Lane, Shaw Road junction.

Further objections were made about flood risk issues, drainage and overloading of nearby services such as schools.

Alan Chorlton of Chorlton Planning said: "It is to be expected people would resist development.

"We are aware also of people who would support the development as it would remove the abattoir and the association issues that go with it. It would also provide much needed family housing.

"No decision has yet been made as to whether a fresh application will be submitted."