Released on: January 24, 2008, 6:12 am

Press Release Author: ORE UK Ltd

Industry: Industrial

Press Release Summary: Planning permission granted for redevelopment of former Akzo
Nobel site, Littleborough.

Press Release Body: Preston, Lancashire (ORE UK) January 23, 2007 -
http://www.woodfordgroup.com [Woodford Land__title__ Brownfield land-- Stephen
Daubney CEO -- land remediation] Woodford Land has been granted planning permission
to begin redevelopment of the former Akzo Nobel site, on Hollingworth Road,
Littleborough.
The application was granted at a committee meeting of Rochdale Metropolitan Borough
Council (RMBC) on Wednesday evening and remediation work will commence once the
detailed strategy has been approved.
Part of Woodford Group PLC, the UK's largest brownfield land acquisition,
remediation and development company, Woodford Land bought the former chemical works
site in December 2006 and planning permission has been granted for circa 164 homes
along with commercial and leisure facilities.
The site links Littleborough town centre and Hollingworth Lake and is in a prime
location for the area. Akzo Nobel ceased operations at the site in September 2004
and the land has remained vacant ever since.
Jason Parkinson, Managing Director of Woodford Land said: \"Having worked closely
with the local community and RMBC we are certain that regenerating this unused site
will have great benefits for the area. \"
Woodford Land specialise in the sympathetic regeneration of difficult sites with the
emphasis on retaining and enhancing ecological habitats and will ensure the best
possible use of the waterside area, offering a mix of desirable three and four
bedroom homes including a proportion of affordable housing.
Mr. Parkinson continued: \"The site is in a great location on the canal side with
good views of the surrounding countryside and though it's a real eyesore at the
moment with a large number of derelict buildings, the site has huge potential and it
is vital that the whole community benefits from its regeneration.\"
Woodford Land\'s plans also include landscaped public spaces with new facilities for
outdoor recreational activities to attract visitors and increase tourism in the area
whilst also creating employment opportunities for the residents of Littleborough
both through the proposed leisure facilities and through the commercial element of
the scheme.
Notes to Editors

http://www.woodfordgroup.com [About Woodford Group PLC __title__ Brownfield land --
land remediation -- property development]

Woodford Group PLC is one of the fastest growing specialist brownfield acquisition,
remediation and development companies in the UK. Placed 7th in Sunday Times Profit
Track 100 in 2006 with a profit of £15.2m - growth of 125% per year, Woodford are
the only company ever to have improved their performance three years in a row. The
company has offices in Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Yarm, Cambridge,
London and a Head Office in Preston.

Woodford provide a full, in-house service from land buying to sign off of sites fit
for residential or commercial building. Woodford Land, the land acquisition and
remediation arm of the Group has extensive experience of returning previously
unusable land to public use through their in-house remediation experts. The Group's
development division, Golden Living design and build high quality retirement
apartments for the over 55s.

For further information visit www.woodfordgroup.com


Web Site: http://www.woodfordgroup.com

Contact Details: For further information or comment on Woodford Group PLC, please
contact Jenny Walkinshaw at Ore UK Limited. Tel: 01772 318 700.
E-mail jenny@ore.uk.com

Ore UK Ltd.
Gordon House
Sceptre Way
Bamber Bridge
Preston PR5 6AW