An ambitious plan to bring life into a forgotten corner of Middleton, Lancashire has been revealed by town hall bosses. They want to transform the land around the British Vita site into a major new residential and recreation area. The scheme will certainly attract property investors with an interest in landlord insurance.
As many as two-hundred new homes may be built and the River Irk, which runs through the site, would be developed into a haven for both walkers and wildlife. Major improvements to Oldham Road would also be carried out to reduce congestion and to provide easy access to the new estate. Full details will be revealed next month when planning chiefs will start to consult with residents about the development. British Vita has been based at the site in Greater Manchester for more than half a century and they approached Rochdale council about developing the vacant parts of the land. Although the site is still operational, most parts of it have been slowly closed down over the last seven years.
Councillor Donna Martin said: “Anything which brings investment into the area and which improves the housing stock can only be a good thing. We need to carefully look at the proposals to ensure they do not have a detrimental effect on existing residents and businesses, but overall it’s about time that effort and resources were focused in this area. Although the development is positive it’s important that residents around Glenwood Drive, who will back on to the new houses, are in favour of the scheme. Scowcroft Woods is in the area and needs to be protected while there is also a well-used right of access running through the site which we need to keep.”
Middleton Regeneration Group will discuss the issue this week before the public consultation in March. Half of the new homes built will be council properties and some will be earmarked for affordable housing, however, the rest will certainly be open for private investors to expand their portfolios.