LABOUR councillors have hit out at “weaknesses” in the planning system amid “serious concerns” over a £7m Moorside development.

Concerns were sparked after the “fine details” of a 23-home development in Haven Lane, Moorside were submitted to the Oldham council for approval despite fears remaining from residents.

Anxieties over issues with drainage, traffic calming, CO2, and the proximity of one proposed home to another existing property remain rife among the community.

The multimillion-pound proposals by Cube Homes were originally rejected by the Planning Committee in 2016, before the decision was overturned by the national Planning Inspectorate, fining the local authority £35,000.

Labour councillor Angela Cosgrove criticised the Conservative government for making it “easier and easier for developers to build what they like”.

Cllr Angela Cosgrove said: “I helped secure a motion to defer the plans so the developers could look again at some of the issues raised by residents.

She added: “The planning system is weighed heavily in favour of developers, and, despite what local Tories have tried to suggest, the site doesn’t have the protection of green belt.

“The reality is the Conservatives are making it easier and easier for developers to build what they like, and local councillors and communities are having any ability to resist, or work with developers to improve the plans, taken away from them.”

Angela’s ward colleague, former Mayor and Labour councillor Ginny Alexander, has meanwhile written to Cube Homes and pleaded for a “rethink”.

She said: “It’s very disappointing that the developers haven’t made the changes that would reflect the community’s wishes.

“We need more good quality homes, but they have to be appropriate to the area. The Government seems determined to take all power out of the local authority’s hands and give it to their developer friends.

“We’ll also be writing to Conservative Councillor Beth Sharp asking her to intervene with party colleagues to change the unfair system that allows this to happen.”

In response Councillor Sharp said: "My priority since being elected back in May has been to listen to residents and try and represent their views and concerns to the best of my ability as they have previously felt let down.One of those concerns has been the development on Haven Lane.

"Whilst I am not in the business of playing the blame game, this development was granted planning permission by the Labour dominated planning committee, at which they could have chosen to refuse the decision by the inspectorate."

She added: "I have been in discussions with planning officers at OMBC and I am arranging a meeting with them and local residents to discuss concerns and how these can be resolved.”

A spokesperson for Cube Homes meanwhile said: “We have worked extensively with the council to try and create a solution that meets the needs of the area and addresses the concerns raised by the planners.
“As a matter of course, we wrote to all ward councillors before we submitted the reserved matters planning application to offer to engage but had no response.
“We believe that the submitted plans are the best solution for this site and will bring vital new housing to Oldham.”