Green light for West Hopwood start following planning approval
Work is to start on more than 200 new homes after planning permission was granted for the first of two residential development parcels at West Hopwood in Rochdale.
West Hopwood is a 1,000-home new community which is being delivered as part of the South Heywood masterplan.
Russell Homes and Bellway Homes secured reserved matters approval for a total of 217 properties across two sites from Rochdale Borough Council’s planning committee.
The Oaks at West Hopwood from Russell Homes will deliver 61 detached and semi-detached houses, from three to five bedrooms. The five-acre plot on Hareshill Road sits at the northern entrance to the wider South Heywood regeneration site, a mixed-use residential and commercial scheme being brought forward by Russell Homes’ sister company Russell LDP as master developer.
Bellway Homes will build 156 properties after acquiring an 11.6-acre site immediately to the south, with access from Manchester Road. To be known as Hopwood Meadows, Bellway will build a mix of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes from the housebuilder’s recently launched Artisan collection, incorporating a carefully planned mix of detached and semi-detached properties set alongside a new linear park.
Work on both is due to commence this summer, with sales launched later this year and the first completions expected in early 2023.
Russell Homes secured outline planning permission for the 316-acre South Heywood masterplan in March 2020 for up to 1,000 homes, 1.5million sq ft of employment space, a new local retail centre, and a range of new community facilities including a primary school, sports pitches and public open space.
This was as part of a hybrid application which also fully approved delivery of a new 2.2km link road from junction 19 of the M62 to the new and existing logistics parks off Pilsworth Road, which is currently under construction and due for completion later this year.
Gary Lynch, Russell Homes planning director, said: “These approvals mark a crucial milestone in the delivery of the South Heywood masterplan and allow for the creation of the new West Hopwood residential community. Russell Homes’ first development, The Oaks, will provide large, contemporary family homes as desired by the council’s housing strategy. Further plots will be brought forward over the next decade.
Significant investment is being made by both housebuilders via Section 106 contributions to support the delivery of new infrastructure and community facilities, this includes the new J19 link road, primary and secondary education provision, public open space, a new bus stop and bus service and sports pitches.
Grace Yarlett, senior sales manager for Bellway Manchester, said: “Bordering open countryside, yet with fantastic links to the motorway network, Hopwood Meadows is in a great location to enjoy a lifestyle with a semi-rural feel that is still well connected to traditional suburban transport links.
“With the added benefit of huge investment in the area resulting in great new community facilities and open green spaces, we are confident that homes at Hopwood Meadows will be in high demand once released for sale later this year.”
