A determined 76-year-old farmer stands firm against leaving his £1.1 million bungalow amid plans for a massive 2,150-home development on green belt land in Greater Manchester.
Farmer’s Resolve at Far Meadow Farm
Alan French resides in his two-bedroom detached bungalow at Far Meadow Farm in Hyde, surrounded by 10 acres of picturesque countryside since 2002. The retired horticulturalist and acclaimed horse judge envisioned the property as his permanent home. However, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council introduced the Godley Green Garden Village project in 2016, targeting 256 acres of green belt between Hyde and Hattersley for two new villages.
Outline planning permission, submitted in 2021 and approved earlier this year, outlines the residential expansion. Council officials have secured options agreements with numerous landowners, but French rejected the offer. He now anticipates a potential Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), drawing from past experiences where both his childhood home and grandmother’s cottage faced CPOs and demolition.
French addressed councillors directly: “My life has been plagued by these purchase orders. When I first found out about these plans and that my property is right in the middle, I was thinking to myself blummin’ heck not another one. This time I told them to sod off and that I’m not going anywhere.”
He cherishes his peaceful life with five horses, two chickens, two ducks, and four pigeons, enjoying stunning garden views. “This is my own little bubble, and it is a pity the council are trying to pop it,” French added. He fears displacement at his age and notes a recent meeting where officials assured no CPO but failed to provide written confirmation.
Another Resident Resists
Retired dairy farmer Anne Tym, 68, and her husband—who has lived on their nine-acre Brookfold Farm in Hyde since birth—also refuse to yield. Married for 40 years, Tym declared: “I told the council on day one, they are not having it. If I wanted to live on a housing estate, I would, but I don’t.” She reports council inquiries about selling and CPO threats without documentation. “It is my land, why should I have to leave,” she stated.
Local Backlash and Campaign Efforts
The proposal drew over 4,000 objections upon submission in October 2021. Critics highlight that only 15 percent of homes qualify as affordable. The Save Tameside Greenbelt campaign group opposes the project. Leader Claire Elliott, 48, from Stalybridge, remarked: “Everyone is angry really that it has gone ahead. It is mainly the fact that it was spun as a community project, but thousands objected. We feel like we haven’t been listened to.”
Sue Hartley, 65, who stables her horse on French’s land, calls the uncertainty “disgusting” and accuses officials of land banking. “It seems cruel really, they are leaving people worried about their houses,” she said.
French criticizes the development as an eyesore that ruins local wildlife: “The area is changing, but it seems to be moving in the wrong direction, in my opinion.”
Project Overview and Supporter Views
Godley Green Garden Village includes 2,150 homes, green spaces, play areas, a primary school, sports pitches, and healthcare facilities. Originating in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework draft, it aligns with the Places for Everyone plan. Following adoption in March 2024, the site exited green belt status for development.
Outline permission passed last month after initial denial, linked to a £29 million investment by housing developers in the Godley area. Tameside Council partners with MADE to deliver the villages.
Council leader Eleanor Wills emphasized: “The designs not only consider the importance of infrastructure and green spaces, but also the mix of people that come together to make a proper community. Godley Green will have homes for young couples and families, retirees, and single people.”
Stephen Kinsella, managing director of MADE Partnership, added: “We are planning a high-quality development where green space and community facilities are at the heart of its design.”
A joint statement from Tameside Council and MADE confirms: “No compulsory purchase orders are being actively pursued or have been issued for the land within the allocated Godley Green Garden Village. The Council and MADE have worked closely with landowners through ongoing engagement to progress proposals via dialogue and agreement.” MADE recently submitted a reserved matters application for initial infrastructure phases.
