At the Town Council meeting on Wednesday 9 April 2025, the following Statement on Housing Overdevelopment in Mossley was adopted@
We express our deep concern about the growing threat of housing overdevelopment in Mossley. This town is unique, with a strong community, identity and heritage, and it is essential that we protect that for the generations who live here today and for those who will follow.
We recognise and support that regionally and nationally there is an urgent to build more housing stock, particularly social housing, and that like everywhere else Mossley must play its part in achieving this.
But in terms of our town, at least some of any new houses must be genuinely affordable, particularly so for those Mossley young people who want to buy a house where they were born. It must also be situated in the right locations with the necessary infrastructure to support the community. Development must never come at the cost of compromising the character of our town or the well-being or safety of its residents.
We are committed to ensuring that any future housing projects respect the nature of Mossley, and to averting a looming infrastructure crisis brought on by overdevelopment. We will continue to fight against inappropriate overdevelopment and move to ensure that all new housing aligns with the town’s existing infrastructure and geography, and the needs of our local families.
This is a statement of determination and intent. We are simply no longer prepared to let the future of our town be shaped by others. From this moment, we declare a united front against overdevelopment and wish to make clear our mission and intentions. We will act strategically, with urgency and determination, to protect the town’s integrity and ensure it thrives for future generations.
This declaration signals the beginning of a new era in Mossley’s planning and development, and it will be one of the central pillars of the new Mossley Neighbourhood Plan being developed. We will make the case for Mossley, for the kind of housing we need and where it should go. We will ensure that the future of Mossley remains in the hands of its people, rather than developers or planners seeking to make profit at the expense of our community.
It’s time to stand up for Mossley. It’s time for change.
Mossley Town Council