Breightmet: Developer asked to address residents' concerns

The council officers say they have asked the firm to address a number of issues in response to those raised by residents.

Hive Homes, behind the development off Woodland Close, say they are aware of the concerns and are working with the authority.

The planning application was approved in February 2022, subject to conditions.

Residents say that water build up is not new in this area, but they have noticed it getting worse since the development, especially when it rains.

Anne Haslam who lives on Rusland Avenue, says there has always been a “natural run of water” from the top of the hill in the area, but she says she has noticed puddles in her garden getting worse since work started.

She said: "I am frustrated and annoyed and it was my objection originally over the fact that there would be an ingress of water, because I knew there had always been water coming down that field."

Flooding on Rusland Drive where the retaining wall is (Image: Newsquest)Issues have also been raised over the material used for the retaining wall.

The council has said that following a meeting with the developers, they have asked them to address several issues with the retaining wall and associated drain infrastructure.

Hive Homes have said they are aware of an “isolated flooding” incident from the site before the building work, due to a broken section of “an existing drain”, which they say they have helped the council repair.

Ward councillor Cllr Adele Warren added: “Residents must be looking and thinking how much more rain is going to come through and what’s going to happen to my garden?

“And it’s not fair to live with that anxiety of what’s going to be coming through their garden next."

Resident, Mark Brooks, who lives on Rusland Drive, says he is concerned what will happen when the retaining wall material rots, who will maintain it and pay to fix it, and whether this will affect the selling of their homes.

Mark also expressed concerns over the height the retaining wall will be when a fence is added on top, which he says will make it “look like a prison”.

He said: “If they put a fence on top of the retaining wall, we’re going to be looking at a wall around 10/12ft high, and I can’t put a 12ft fence up in my garden, so why can they? It’s going to look like a prison.”

Resident Janet Baxendale says she is particularly concerned that the privacy they could potentially lose with the height of the build.

She added: “They will be able to see out of their bedroom window straight into my bedroom window, or into our gardens, but we won’t be able to see into theirs.”

Janet's husband David says that himself and the other residents feel as though they just “don’t matter” and have been forgotten about.  

Hive Homes has since submitted another application to discharge the conditions set out in October 2022.

The application says that the garden levels were "never annotated on the approved drainage plan" or plans to discharge it.

The application also said that the garden levels for "plots 12, 13, and 14" were not acceptable, but that they were continuing to work with the applicant to see how the garden levels "can be suitably reduced".

Hive Homes will now have to submit a new application providing further details on the boundary, treatment, levels, and landscaping.  

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “Following the concerns raised by residents of Rusland Drive, council officers have visited the site and spoken with the developer.

“The developer has now been asked to address a number of issues with retaining wall and associated drainage infrastructure.

“In addition, the developer is required to submit a new discharge of condition application to provide further details on boundary treatment, levels, and landscaping.

“This application will then be reviewed in line with council planning policy.”

A spokesperson for Hive Homes said: "We are aware of the neighbours' concerns and have been working closely with Bolton Council’s Planning Department to address the points raised and can confirm that the houses have been built in accordance with the levels [Floor slab and drainage levels] approved in the planning permission.

"We are also aware of an isolated flooding issue from the site prior to the commencement of our construction work which was attributable to a broken section of an existing drain, and we assisted the council at the time by repairing the break. 

"The drainage strategy for our site includes storage and attenuation of rainwater to restrict discharge to ‘Greenfield’ flow rates and a comprehensive scheme of land drainage is being installed in the rear gardens of the houses to manage groundwater in a sustainable manner.

"A positive meeting was held with the council on-site on February 12 to look at the rear garden and boundary fence levels and the council's formal response is expected imminently."

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