UDP - Chapter 21 - Dukinfield
Unitary Development Plan
Chapter 21
Dukinfield
| Ref | Proposal | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| DUK1 | The major part of the former Dewsnap Sidings off Astley Street to be developed for an industrial park, for general industrial (B2) and storage / distribution (B8) uses. | DUK1. This key, 14 hectare, level, vacant site is located in the western part of Dukinfield, on the northern side of the Manchester to Glossop railway between Astley Street (B6169) and King Street (A627). It was originally occupied by extensive sidings, a colliery and a railway wagon works, and whilst these were all cleared a number of years ago, some further work may still be required to deal with possible ground contamination. The land is bordered by housing to the east and to a lesser extent to the west, and by playing fields to the north.
From 1989 to 1993, the Council was involved in efforts to promote the development of an international rail freight terminal and associated freight village on the original 16.2 hectare site, and also on the nearby Brookside Sidings in Ashton (proposal ASH2). This included the formation of a dedicated access road (proposal AUD1) to link the Dewsnap site more directly with the strategic highway network, near the proposed Audenshaw link to the extended M66 motorway (proposal TR2). However, from late 1993 the site was marketed more generally for employment development, and subsequently split in order to create a 2.0 hectare area for housing development at the eastern end, which was under construction in May 1995. Outline planning permission was granted in December 1993 for a new factory on the main site, but this is likely to be superseded by the outline scheme for the laying out of access roads and construction of an industrial park, which was submitted in November 1994. The Council was minded to approve this application in December 1994, subject to the signing of a Section 106 Agreement. The industrial park will be served from a new access onto Astley Street, which will include carriageway realignment and a roundabout, to overcome problems caused by restricted visibility at the existing railway bridge. The possibility of providing rail access alongside the industrial park at some future date has not been ruled out, and the facility must be retained to provide the new Dukinfield passenger station described under proposal DUK2 (although this is now likely to be situated adjacent to the new housing site). The need for appropriate environmental treatment at the boundary between the industrial park and the adjacent housing remains an important issue. |
| DUK2 | A new Dukinfield Station to be constructed on the Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop rail line in the vicinity of King Street and Dewsnap Lane. | DUK2. Although the local rail services from Manchester to Glossop and Marple run through the southern part of Dukinfield close to extensive residential areas, the only available station for the Dukinfield area is at Hyde North. That station is not well located in relation to much of the town's population and has a very poor access from Johnson Brook Road, through a dark, narrow railway bridge. The platforms are on the Hyde branch only, where the services are less frequent than on the Glossop line.
The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive has included a station in the Dewsnap area on the Glossop and Marple line, within the second phase of its prospective programme of new small station construction throughout the county area. Implementation would be subject to a suitable site and access being agreed and to sufficient funding being available. Indeed, planning consent has previously been sought by British Rail to build a new station on land adjoining the former Dewsnap Sidings, although no decision was reached on that application due to the subsequent proposal to develop Channel Tunnel freight terminal facilities. The identification of a precise site for the new station has been affected by the latest proposals for the layout of that site (see proposal DUK1) and of the housing scheme at the eastern end of the former Dewsnap Sidings, on which construction commenced in 1995. These schemes allow for a rail station to be built towards the White Bridge (A627) end of the overall former Dewsnap Sidings, along with an access from King Street. |
| DUK3 | Land at Ashton Street and Gate Street to be developed for employment purposes. | DUK3. This 1.3 hectare vacant site is situated on the east bank of the River Tame, within a long established industrial area at the western edge of the town. It is understood to have been acquired by the nearby firm Cabot Plastics Limited, who were granted planning permission in October, 1989 to install a temporary canvas and aluminium warehouse on the site for a period of three years until November 1992. |
| DUK4 | Land on north side of Furnace Street to be developed for employment purposes, including provision of a play area for the benefit of adjoining residents. | DUK4. This vacant, level, Council owned site of 0.8 hectares lies within the established Tame Valley industrial corridor and just south of Ashton town centre. It was reclaimed several years ago as part of a larger scheme to provide a landscaped broad-walk around the bow of the river, linking Cavendish Street to Whitelands Bridge and forming part of a longer pedestrian route through the heartland of the Tame valley, and to make land available for industrial uses within the planted belt. The greater part of this land has since been developed. It was envisaged that a small play area would be incorporated into the scheme to serve the adjacent Furnace Street area. |
| DUK6 | Land west of Armadale Road (former Pit Hills site) to be reserved for a replacement primary school. | DUK6. This 4.8 hectare former colliery site has been the subject of a derelict land reclamation scheme which has capped the mine-shafts and levelled the central plateau. The site is centrally located and easily accessible from surrounding housing estates. The poor location of the existing Globe Lane Primary School and the increase in population due to nearby housing developments have resulted in the proposal for a new 2 form entry primary school as a replacement for Globe Lane. It is expected that land not required for the school will remain as open space. |
| DUK7 | Existing public open space south of the "Royal" Avenues, between Oakfield Hall and Dukinfield Golf Course, to be improved and landscaped to increase its recreational use and enhance its appearance. | DUK7. This extensive and almost entirely Council owned open space is situated in the eastern part of the town. Along with the golf course to the east and school playing fields to the north and west, it effectively separates the Newton area of Hyde from Dukinfield. As such, it is important that it should be safeguarded from built development. However, although it contains certain playing pitches the overall condition and appearance of the area is rather barren and offers little opportunity for other forms of recreational activity. The recreational development of this 12.7 hectare site could include both formal and informal uses, with additional footpath provision and tree planting to diversify the landscape. |