Salford to consider bid for new 400-home community at next planning panel

Salford City Council planning panel will consider plans for a 400-home development, which has been recommended for approval, at its meeting next Thursday (March 20).

This is despite 379 letters of objection to the plans.

The proposal for a new sustainable neighbourhood at Hazelhurst Farm, in Worsley, includes a significant number of affordable homes and key community benefits.

The site is allocated for housing in Greater Manchester’s Places for Everyone Plan, and applicant, Peel Land, said the proposals have been developed in consultation with the local community to reflect local needs.

If approved, the development will provide: 50% affordable housing – 20% within the development, plus funding for a further 30% across Salford; land and contributions for a new two-form entry primary school to support growing demand; a new village green with a children’s play area, enhancing local amenities; new and improved pedestrian and cycle routes to encourage sustainable travel; better access to Wardley Woods and new green spaces for recreation wellbeing.

A spokesperson for Peel Land said: “We welcome the opportunity for Salford City Council to consider our proposals for Hazelhurst Farm next week.

“This project reflects years of collaboration with the council and local community to shape a well-planned, sustainable neighbourhood that meets critical housing and education needs.

“Improved access to public transport will provide the current community and residents increased accessibility to a range of sustainable transport options that aligns with the Greater Manchester approach.”

They added: “If approved, this masterplan will deliver more than just new homes – it will create a thriving community for people at all stages of life.”

Despite the objections, planning officers recommend approval for the scheme, saying it “would make a significant quantitative and qualitative contribution towards high quality and energy-efficient housing supply within the city, with the scheme delivering a policy-compliant housing mix which would contribute towards a broader mix of new housing options within Salford.”

They add: “Very substantial weight is also afforded to the contribution of 50% equivalent affordable housing as part of the development, with 20% provided on-site and the remainder provided off-site by way of a commuted sum.

“Great weight is also afforded to the benefits which may arise by virtue of providing land for provision of a new primary school onsite.”

They say: “Overall, the development would deliver significant, long term, demonstrable benefits.

“Although some minor adverse impacts have been identified with respect to the loss of a small area of best and most versatile agricultural land, impacts on traffic flow and journey times on the highway network in the vicinity of the site, increased noise, increased greenhouse gas emissions and moderate to major adverse residual effects identified with respect to change to landscape character and visual amenity, these are not considered to result in unacceptable impacts that would warrant refusal of planning permission when considered in the round and taking account of the substantial benefits of the development.”