Village Greenfield Development Decision Looms Amid Traffic Safety Concerns

A planning battle that has left Woodhouses residents feeling “frustrated and powerless” reaches its conclusion Wednesday when councillors vote on whether to approve 41 new homes behind the village church.

The development by Jones Homes would transform greenfield land off Ashton Road into six three-bedroom and 35 four-bedroom properties, plus a new access road and water pump station on adjacent green belt land. Four homes would be transferred to a social housing provider.

Councillors unanimously deferred the decision at a January planning meeting after residents warned the development would worsen what they describe as already dangerous traffic conditions. Paul Robbie, whose vehicles have been struck five times, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that crashes occur frequently on Ashton Road, which serves as a “rat run for people cutting through into Manchester.”

“At peak times, that quadruples the amount of traffic through the village,” Robbie said, expressing concern that new households could add up to four vehicles each.

The proposal has generated significant opposition, with 119 formal objections and a petition bearing over 200 signatures. Despite this, council officers recommend approval, stating the council lacks substantial planning grounds for refusal and that traffic impact would be “not significant,” with a maximum 33 additional vehicles expected at peak times. They noted only two severe injury accidents have been recorded on the road.

Jones Homes has indicated it would appeal any refusal and seek cost recovery, arguing rejection would be “unrelated to planning matters.” The final decision comes Wednesday at 6pm at Oldham’s Civic Centre.

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