Thousands of new homes but I could lose mine

FARMER FEARS NEW DEVELOPMENT COULD FORCE HIM OUT

- GEORGE LYTHGOE

ALAN French points to the rolling fields beyond his back garden. The 74-year-old is worried.

And he has good reason to be.

He fears thousands of new homes due to be built on the land could see him kicked out of his own home.

Alan lives on a small farm holding off Mottram Old Road in Hyde, but he's terrified he could get the boot any day now.

Far Meadow Farm, which he jokingly described as a place for 'misfit animals' and 'strange people; sits within the area touted for 2,150 new homes.

Alan has lived on the farm for 15 years. He moved there after being forced out of two previous homes in neighbouring Romiley compulsory purchase through orders (CPOs).

Now the stud farmer says he fears it is happening all over again, 'just so housing developers can make some cash' This time the housing developer in question is Tameside Council, who are pushing forward with their Godley Green Garden Village plan.

The scheme would see 2,150 homes built on the Hyde countryside over a 15-year period. It was granted outline planning approval in November 2023.

The proposal would see a new 'village' split by Godley Brook into two halves, each with its own centre, including up to 1,300 sqm of retail space, 1,600 sqm of commercial and 1,000 sqm for community use.

Unlike a number of farmers and landowners in the area who have taken offers to sell up and move on, Alan wants to stay put.

"I love it here, it's the happiest I've ever been," the farmer told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "I don't want to move out and I don't want to be forced out."

Alan claims he only hears of updates on the Godley Green plan, which is happening on his doorstep, through word of mouth or the news.

He says that every time the council has visited him, the main question they ask is whether he has changed his mind on selling up, rather than to update him on the housing development plan.