A 350-acre mixed use scheme, comprising 1.88 million sq ft of logistics space, 1,000 new homes and a local centre.
The Development
South Heywood presents an opportunity to create a genuine new community and a lasting legacy for the local area. The scheme includes 1,000 new homes, delivered by nationally reputable house builders, up to 1.88 million sq ft of Grade A industry-leading logistics space, a high quality local retail centre, a new 2.2km link road, a new primary school, sports pitches and neighbourhood play areas, and extensive landscape and ecology zones.
Current Status
A Reserved Matters application has been submitted and is currently in for determination to enable the first phase of the logistics development to commence. Determination is expected Summer 2022.
The first phase of residential development has been approved under Reserved matters and has commenced on site. This phase includes 340 residential plots, across 3 land parcels.
The primary 2.2km Link Road is nearing completion, constructed by John Sisk and Son. Completion is expected Winter 2022.
The Local Centre, including the primary school and sports facilities is currently at a detailed design stage.
Strategy
South Heywood is one of the largest strategic developments in the region, The South Heywood masterplan secured outline planning permission for a 350-acre primarily Green Belt site. The development is for a new sustainable urban extension adjacent to Heywood, and forms the first phase of a much larger development, included within the new Mayoral Development Zone - Atom Valley.
Russell LDP assembled the entire site, securing options with several principal landowners, and acted on their behalf as the Master Developer, to design this complex strategic masterplan, and manage all development across the site.
Planning Permission
The original Hybrid Planning Permission was secured March 2020, as part of a Very Special Circumstances planning case (VSC). We provided a clear and concise planning argument for development which, despite the size and designation as Green Belt, was not called in by the Secretary of State. The robust case was formulated on the economic benefits of the masterplan, with the potential for new employment to generate circa £175m GDV per year for the local area.
The Rochdale Development Agency has worked in partnership with Russell LDP on the South Heywood Regeneration Scheme for over 10 years.
Russell LDP has been an invaluable private sector partner through all stages of this regionally important project, from feasibility through to inception and now delivery, including leading on land assembly and securing the planning permissions.
We have found the Russell LDP team to be engaging, pro-active and solution focussed in managing this hugely significant urban regeneration project with Rochdale Council.
Damian Cooke, Operations Director, Rochdale Development Agency
Our Involvement
Russell LDP are the Developer for the site, with the full Russell Group involved in the construction of the logistics development, bringing forward up to 1.88 million sq ft of logistics space. Delivering Grade A, BREEAM Excellent, Net Zero in Construction units.
The delivery of the Link Road which will unlock the employment areas was a long-held ambition of the Local Authority and Highways Agencies, to divert heavy goods traffic from the busy urban centre and improve accessibility for local industrial and business parks.
We have designed and brought forward the infrastructure necessary to enable development, including utility diversions, adoptable highways, extensive remediation and earthworks operations, main river watercourse improvements and ecological enhancements.