Huge country park and housing development could soon be built in Greater Manchester

The future of a vacant green space that was once occupied by a former coal-fired power station in Stalybridge could be decided next week.

The old Hartshead Power Station and Millbrook Sidings is set to be replaced by a huge new community park and a 162-home development. Casey Group Limited will need to convince the planning panel meeting at Guardsman Tony Downes House in Droylsden on September 11 if they want to see their vision come to fruition.

The site itself sits within the greenbelt and currently has remnants of the former industrial uses including exposed culverts and drains, disused buildings and structures, piles of rubble and concrete slabs and isolated contamination.

READ MORE: This 'vital oasis' is about to change forever despite local fury

Since the closure of the power station in the 1980’s, the site has lain derelict and is now covered with self-seeded vegetation, with scrub and trees growing through the rubble and remaining dormant structures and voids.

The masterplan has outlined four zones of development - each with their own character and purpose. Zone 1 is the area focused on the ponds and surroundings at the Printworks which would be set aside as an ecology area. Zone 2 is where the proposed Community Hub was planned, which has now been redesigned to become an ‘ecology enhancement area’ on the former Power Station site to the north of Spring Bank Lane.

Zone 3 is the linear woodland along the route of the former railway line and Zone 4 is the former railway sidings off Crowswood Drive where the 162 homes are proposed.

The proposed new housing estate would be split between 31 two-bed houses, 75 three bed and 55 four or more bedroom homes. These would include a range of affordable and open market