Opposition builds to £100m Foxdenton plan

A plan used by Foxdenton and District Protection Group shows the outline of the 120-acre proposed development, with the shaded areas showing the council-owned land

A PROTEST meeting takes place tomorrow against the controversial £100 million proposal for a business park and hundreds of new homes in Chadderton.

The plans will see development on a swathe of land on a 120-acre site roughly bounded by Broadway, Foxdenton Lane, Radclyffe Athletic Centre and Firwood Park housing estate.

An outline planning application includes up to 500 new homes, a 700,000 sq ft warehouse, manufacturing and office development, a new link road and more than 20 acres of public open space.

Initial news of the development sparked a wave of protest from residents opposed to the plan on grounds including road safety, loss of green space and the use of publicly-owned land.

Christina Gater of Foxdenton and District Protection Group, said: “We want to jog the memories of the public that some of this land is owned by the council, and people have a right to have a say on what happens to it.

“The council says residents have been extensively consulted, but they haven’t — it’s not enough. There has been no response to letters or to petitions, and tomorrow’s meeting is to explain to residents how they can put in an objection that the council will have to take into account.

“It has to be a reasonable objection because some of the land is privately owned, and we accept the landowner has a right to sell it.

Hundreds of local residents have attended meetings to oppose the development and have signed a petition.

Tomorrow’s meeting is at the Nimble Nook club in Foxdenton Lane (7.30pm).