Closure fear over controversial plans

CONCERN . . . businesses at Phoenix Mill

ANGRY firms fear they will be put out of business by controversial plans to demolish an industrial estate and build 89 new houses.

Phoenix Mill Industrial Centre in Failsworth — home to more than 30 businesses — is to be converted into a housing estate.

The site, bounded by Cheetham Street, Duke Street and Oldham Road, is currently fully occupied by businesses that will have to move or close.

The new outline application is a resubmission of a scheme granted on appeal in December 2011. Planning councillors had originally rejected the application in January 2011 following a hard-fought campaign, only to have the decision overturned on appeal.

The new application, significantly changed, contains a mixture of flats and two to four-bedroom terrace houses.

Changes to the original plan mean public green space and a commercial element to the development have been replaced by more homes. The original plans had 86 homes - 25 flats, 10 four-bedroom homes, 38 three-bedroom and 13 two-bedroom houses, while the new ones call for 12 flats, 12 four-bedroom houses, 41 three-bedroom homes and 24 two-bedroom homes.

The news has come a s a further b low to resident businesses: Harold Cleworth, who has run Cleworth Motors on the estate for 23 years, believes it will be the end of his business.

“I’m 70 now and I simply cannot think about moving somewhere else,” he said. “I’ll have to close and make the four members of my staff redundant, which I don’t want to do.

“We fought hard last time and had the support of lots of councillors but I just don’t know what we can do anymore.”

His views were shared by several other businesses on the site.

The owner of KMO Medical and Dental Laboratory said: “It is just ridiculous. We’ve built up a business here over the past 18 years and our customers know us on this site. It will drastically hurt us if we have to move. I just can’t believe they are trying to force us out like this again.”

Agent Indigo Planning Limited said the 40 units at Phoenix Mill are in a poor state and that it is not financially viable for the site to continue for business.


ENGLAND’S Planning Inspectorate in Bristol is the cause of uncertainty among the businesses at Phoenix Mill, says council leader Councillor Jim McMahon.
The councillor - who represents Failsworth East - said urgent talks are needed to clarify the options for firms at the site.

“I backed local businesses in objecting to the original application because of the disruption the development would have caused to many small businesses.

“Having refused the application, the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol undermined the local community by turning the decision over at appeal.

“To object now would not get the best outcome for the people of Failsworth, given that the developer could go ahead and build the original proposal.

“We need urgent discussions on what this new application means for the businesses affected to ensure they are not left hanging on without a clear idea of their future.”