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Alan French, a 76-year-old farmer, is determined to remain on his farm next to a new village development planned on green belt land in Godley, near Hyde, Tameside. Having lived at Far Meadow Farm for 17 years, French has witnessed the gradual acquisition of surrounding land to make way for 2,150 new homes. Despite previous experiences of being displaced from two other properties through compulsory purchase orders (CPOs), he is adamant that this time he will not leave.
The Godley Green Garden Village project is a large-scale 15-year development endorsed by the local council. Tameside Council leader Eleanor Wills supports the initiative, stating that it “will create a natural, representative community from the outset.” However, French expresses deep frustration over the changes the project will bring. “Every time I move somewhere developers want it,” he said. “I’m 76 now and I think by the time it all gets going and they build from the other end, I shall probably have died by then. But just for spite I’m not going to. This is no longer a rural place. It’s going to get worse if they get their way.”
Planning permission for the development was granted last month, with many of French’s neighbors already issued compulsory purchase orders. The scheme, created in partnership with Tameside Council and MADE—a joint venture between Barratt Redrow PLC, Homes England, and Lloyds Banking Group—faced significant opposition from thousands of local residents. Despite this, Council leader Eleanor Wills defended the plans, insisting that the project “has been thought through very carefully.”
French remains firm in his decision to stay put, reflecting a broader tension between development pressures and preserving rural life. His story highlights the challenges faced by residents living in areas targeted for expansion, especially when plans affect cherished homes and landscapes
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