![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_JS396873738.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThere are major fears that a large open space could be lost forever.<\/p>\n
The Secret Lake is on the boundary of Levenshulme and Reddish(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plans are to basically destroy the whole area,\u201d says Jeremy Hoad, pointing to the woodland and wildlife around him. The 58-year-old is standing by what is known as the \u2018Secret Lake\u2019, an area of natural space sandwiched between the dense housing estates of Levenshulme<\/a> and Reddish<\/a>.<\/p>\n This place feels wild and unkept. Nature is in charge. Birds sing from the trees as dog walkers trek along muddy paths. Shaped like a frying pan, the lake is split in two halves, with the popular Fallowfield<\/a> Loop running through the middle.<\/p>\n People say it has been much-loved by families living nearby for generations. But soon all this could be changed forever under plans to build a housing estate on the land, with 109 houses and 91 apartments.<\/p>\n Click here to prioritise Manchester news in Google from the MEN<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Land around the Secret Lake has been eyed up for development for years, and in summer 2025 plans by a developer called Northern Group were revealed, in a scheme which has now been submitted to Manchester and Stockport<\/a> councils for decision. It could see the \u2018infilling\u2019 of part of the water to allow construction to move ahead.<\/p>\n For campaigners and residents living around the area, this moment marks a crucial stage of their battle to protect the land as it is for the enjoyment of generations to come. As Mr Hoad, who lives in Levenshulme, explains: \u201cIt\u2019s an amazing place that\u2019s been re-wilded over a period of decades, and maintained and taken care of by the community.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an absolute oasis of environmental benefit, it\u2019s actually a site of biological interest registered, and it means so much to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Levenshulme resident Jeremy Hoad said the plans could ‘destroy’ the whole area(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n A rally was held on February 14 to show the strength of local feeling towards protecting the Secret Lake. Around 30 people turned up to share their feelings about the land and take part in a community litter pick.<\/p>\n Mr Hoad added: \u201cPeople were appalled [at the proposals to build on the land], this is such a loved area. The only thing that would survive is the main lake itself, they would be building right up to three of the sides of the main lake, more building off the western end of it, all of the small lake would be completely filled in and built over, it would be a housing estate.\u201d<\/p>\n The campaigners have some momentum behind them, with hundreds of people sharing their opposition to the development plans in a community-led survey. Among the concerns are the loss of a popular nature haunt among the sprawling urban landscape that makes up much of Greater Manchester\u2019s suburbs.<\/p>\n Residents rally to save the Secret Lake from housing development<\/p>\n Residents also challenged claims from Northern Group that the Secret Lake has become a site blighted by \u2018fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour\u2019<\/a> as stated in planning reports.<\/p>\n Claire Clark, 48, lives in Gorton<\/a> and said she would think of moving away if the Secret Lake is built over.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means loads to me, I live two minutes away, we came here 12 years ago and it\u2019s where I walk my dog, it\u2019s been a sanctuary, it\u2019s where we go to be calm, the community looks after it, it\u2019s just beautiful to have this sort of haven,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cTo have this piece of greenery here, especially after the last 12 years it feels like we\u2019ve lost most of the green spaces in Gorton and Levenshulme and Reddish.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople aren\u2019t daft, they know we need housing, everyone in the country knows we need housing, rents are rising, we\u2019re not London at the moment but it\u2019s getting worse and worse.\u201d<\/p>\n Gorton resident Claire Clark said if new homes are built they have to be affordable(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n Ms Clark is worried that the cost of any homes built on the land could be out of reach for local residents.<\/p>\n Northern Group said in its planning application that half the 200 homes would be at \u2018affordable\u2019 prices in a \u2018range of tenures aligned to local needs.\u2019<\/p>\n Stockport has an urgent need for more housing at affordable prices, with around 9,000 people on the social housing list able to bid for council properties. But there are concerns over how much homes planned at the Secret Lake could cost if built.<\/p>\n Ms Clark added: \u201cThe problem is once again this is going to be a development that isn\u2019t for local people at all.<\/p>\n \u201cIn order to achieve the affordable housing it\u2019s going to be shared ownership, which means the houses are probably going to come in at \u00a3360 or \u00a3370k for three or four beds, you\u2019re owning a quarter of that and paying all of the service charges, this is not going to end up being bought by people in this area who earn on average, in Gorton anyway, \u00a327,000.<\/p>\n![\"Levenshulme](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_JS396873746.jpg\")
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