Why Build More Homes When Roads and Services Are Already Strained
Residents in Standish voice strong objections to new housing plans amid local service shortages
Standish, Greater Manchester, Housing, Infrastructure, Community
Standish: There’s a lot of frustration brewing over plans to build 150 new homes in this Greater Manchester village. Folks are already upset, and the planning application hasn’t even been submitted yet.
Local councillor Ray Whittingham shared the news on Facebook, and it didn’t take long for the community to react. The proposed site is behind Moss Green Close and Wood Green Close, right off Iron Drive.
This new development would add to the Church Field estate, which is still being worked on after just two years. But many residents, including Coun Whittingham, are raising red flags. They’re worried about the already crowded roads, overwhelmed doctors’ offices, and a shortage of school spots.
Whittingham pointed out that the roads haven’t improved since the M6 was built ages ago. He mentioned that the local sewer and drainage systems are struggling too. It’s a real mess.
Even Wigan’s mayor, who also represents Standish, is against the idea. Debbie Parkinson said she doesn’t want more houses but thinks they should wait for more details before making any final decisions.
Andy Irving, a local resident, expressed his desire to keep the green fields intact for his kids to play in. He and his wife, Kerry, are not keen on more construction in their backyard.
Colin Tunstall, another neighbor, echoed those sentiments, saying the roads are already packed, and adding 150 more homes would only make things worse.
After the news broke, the Standish Community Facebook page lit up with objections. One comment pointed out that Iron Drive isn’t suitable for the extra traffic.
Another resident, Andy Herricks, urged the developers to finish the existing estate before starting anything new. He’s been living there for nearly five years, and the area still looks unfinished.
Jacki Mansfield and Sue Kirk both chimed in, stressing that the village’s roads, schools, and healthcare services are already overwhelmed. They’re saying enough is enough.
A spokesperson for Standish Voice noted that the village has seen a huge increase in homes over the last decade, but the road infrastructure hasn’t kept up. They mentioned that local NHS services have actually gotten worse, with GPs at risk of being overwhelmed if new homes are built.
Recently, Wigan’s planning committee even turned down new developments in Standish for these very reasons. A spokesperson for Wigan council said they wouldn’t comment further since no application has been submitted yet. Mosaic Town Planning has also been reached out to for their take on the situation.