Developer remains committed to Salford despite losing court ruling
Manchester-based developer Peel L&P has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to investing in Salford after accepting the loss of a court decision into its proposals at Broadoak in Worsley.
The announcement comes following a Court of Appeal decision relating to proposals for new family and affordable homes.
A planning application for 600 homes and new marina on the Bridgewater Canal was submitted to, and refused by, Salford City Council in 2013.
Following an appeal, a proposed smaller scheme for 165 homes was also refused.
Both schemes went to a further appeal, with proposals for a new primary school, and have now been the subject of two successive court decisions.
The latest judgment, handed down by the Court of Appeal today (September 3) dismisses Peel’s challenge that the Secretary of State and the City Council were able to give full statutory weight to the Worsley Greenway policy EN2 within the saved Salford Unitary Development Plan.
Peel L&P had argued that the national presumption in favour of sustainable development should apply and that the Worsley Greenway policy relating to non-Green Belt land could not be given full statutory weight for a number of reasons, including the time-expiry of the policy and its inconsistency with national policy.
In response to the decision, Peel L&P has now confirmed it will not pursue the Broadoak legal case further, accepting the decision of the Court of Appeal.
The company will continue to progress its investments and partnerships elsewhere in the city.
Phil Wilson, Peel L&P’s executive director for land, communities and home building, said: “We’re disappointed that our arguments have not been accepted about the need to develop the Broadoak site to help address Salford’s growing shortage of family and affordable homes.
“We’re also disappointed not to have the opportunity to create something really special and sensitively designed.
“However, we recognise this has become a sensitive issue and, with the passage of time and other priorities, we have decided not to pursue the Broadoak legal case further. We look forward to focusing our efforts elsewhere in the city.”
He added: “Our many investments in Salford have helped transform the city over the last three decades, bringing improved prosperity and wellbeing.
“We’re proud to be a partner with the city council and others through projects at MediaCityUK, Port Salford, AJ Bell Stadium, the Bridgewater Canal and RHS Bridgewater and we will continue progressing our other investments and making the case for meeting the city’s range of housing needs.”
