Branch Debate - "Protect Our Beloved Heaton!"

This is the text of the Deane-cum-Heaton Branch's debate on the threat to the character and environment of Heaton caused by overdevelopment by property speculators.

The following resolution was proposed by John and seconded by George:

"This Branch supports the objectives of the Heaton Residents' Association in opposing the overdevelopment and changing character of the Heaton and surrounding area"

Janet Ray, Chair of the Heaton Residents' Association addressed the meeting. She said that the Heaton Residents' Association had only been formed a few months ago because of the huge amount of development taking place in the area, especially along Chorley New Road. Some developments are better than others but they are nearly all to the general detriment of the neighbourhood.

The Association is especially concerned about the loss of quite a few of the older houses, some of great character and of historical and architectural interest. These are simply being bulldozed and larger numbers of bland modern houses are often erected on the same area. The new houses often turn out to be a lot larger than the approved plans would suggest.

Janet said that we're also losing a lot of trees in Heaton, some more than 100 years old, because of the increased density of new housing. If an individual wants to remove even a diseased tree, permission from the local authority has to be granted and a replacement tree planted. But the developers seem to be operating with a different rulebook. Large trees are taken down and usually replaced with small saplings, often of non-indigenous species. Existing trees, shown as being retained in plans for new developments, are often torn down during construction and never replaced.

She described the objectives of the Association as to:

	Stop/reduce the loss of buildings of architectural or historic interest. She pointed out that properties purchased by developers for redevelopment usually do not come up for sale on the open market.
	Prevent overdevelopment of sites. This especially is changing the character of the area and further overdevelopment needs to be stopped.
	Campaign for stricter controls on building design and materials when development does take place, so that new houses blend in better.
	Persuade landowners to better maintain the land/buildings in their care.

Janet said that most of these issues are actually specifically mentioned in the Bolton Council Chorley New Road Conservation Area policy document. So they are policy but the policy isn't applied rigorously enough. Ironically, the beautiful Victorian house of the front of the policy document has itself been torn down to make way for redevelopment!

Bolton has now fulfilled its housing quotient as have some other nearby authorities. Some have put a moratorium on new developments and she thought that Bolton should consider doing the same.

There is no housing being built for young people or low paid workers. Even the flats being erected (apartments in Heaton!) cost up to £400k. There needs to be a moratorium on new building while there is a long look at the objective of protecting the Conservation Area. Heaton has always had mixed housing - everything from the huge Victorian houses to small terraces and flats and there is a policy being adopted called Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance for Housing. This has been used on several occasions already. In draft form this indicates a change of heart by the Council and recognition that development has gone too far. It remains to be seen whether some of the stronger restraints in the draft will make it through to the final version.

Janet finished by saying that we need a stronger Planning Department to resist the pressure of developers.

Her presentation was followed by questions and discussion:

John said that the Branch should support the Residents' Association. The resolution was put to the vote and carried without dissent.

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