"If they close me down, that'll be it for me": locals oppose 'eco village' development

Locals are opposing plans by an out-of-town developer to transform a site in Hollinwood into an 'affordable an beautiful eco oasis' with 32 new homes. The plot off Pretoria Road is mostly ‘derelict’ but is still home to one business whose owner claims he’s been ‘misrepresented’ in the planning application.

Les Brierley, 67, of L&J Brierley Motors, has rented the space for his business for around 28 years, but says he has ‘hardly’ been involved in the consultation for the development which would see his business closed down.

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Brierley said: “I’m 68 next year. It’d push me over the edge. I just can’t start again and move into a new premises with my equipment. If they close me down, that’ll be it.”

He says the closure would affect his five employees, including his grandson, who is in the second year of his apprenticeship under the Brierley business.

“He’ll have to stand on his own two feet. There’ll be nothing I can do for him,” he said.

Wherever developments involve the closure of viable businesses, developers have to give evidence that the benefits of new housing outweigh the economic loss. In planning documents submitted by Max Kohanzad, the London-based developer suggested the site would be ‘better suited’ as a residential area and claimed that J&L Brierley ‘are retiring later this year’.

Brierley disputes that he has ever agreed to retire but suggested he would have ‘no choice’ if he was thrown off the site.

“It all seems very underhanded,” Brierley said. “It’s their land, I’ve no qualms about that. If they want to throw me off, they can. It’s just the way they’ve gone about it.

“And [Oldham Council]