Avison Young has secured reserved matters planning approval on 195 new homes, 15% of which will be affordable, at the former Hartshead High School site in Ashton-Under-Lyne on behalf of Taylor Wimpey Manchester.
Following the closure of the school, the 6.1-hectare site in Tameside was identified as a potential site for much needed new housing in the borough due to its excellent transport links and location, and outline planning permission for up to 213 homes was granted in 2018.
The application first went to committee in December 2019, following which amendments were made to increase the recreational space on site.
The planning committee panel followed the officer’s recommendation for approval at February committee and permission has now been granted, subject to the signing of a Section 106 agreement, for the construction of 189 two, two-and-a-half and three-storey dwellings, as well as a 3.5 storey apartment block comprising six one-bedroom apartments.
Louisa Fielden, Senior Planner within Avison Young’s team in Manchester said: “We’re delighted that with the support of Tameside Council, we’ve achieved approval for Taylor Wimpey on the former Hartshead High School site.
“The homes and apartments will complement the existing residential development adjacent to the site, and I’m pleased that we’ve worked with Officers at Tameside to create a high-quality scheme that will deliver much-needed housing in the area.”
The site sits close to train links with access to Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool and is within walking distance of several schools.
Liz Percival, assistant land manager at Taylor Wimpey Manchester, said: “We were pleased to receive unanimous support from the committee for our proposed residential scheme. Our proposal has been developed following careful consultation with the local community and Tameside offices in order to deliver a high-quality residential development with open spaces the wider community can enjoy. The site is a key asset in the local authority, and we look forward to delivering more homes in the Ashton-under-Lyne location.”
Baldwin Design are the architects on the scheme, reflecting local character and securing vast improvements to the Knott Hill Public Right of Way, which will run through the centre of the scheme.
Work is ongoing to prepare the site for development, and construction is expected to start on site in spring.
