Trafford Park secures new planning status

TRAFFORD Park has been designated a business neighbourhood planning area which will give companies based there a greater say in its future development.

It will enable the Trafford Park Shadow Management Board, which includes businesses such as Cargill, Manchester United, and Guardian Print Media, to have some control over the development plan process.

It can now submit an application to the council to be a neighbourhood forum, which would enable it to develop a neighbourhood plan or neighbourhood development order.

Mike Pocock, planning partner in the Manchester office of law firm Pinsent Masons, said: “This is fantastic news for Trafford Park and is a critical step towards allowing businesses at Trafford Park to have greater control over the development of the park.

“It is now up to the applicants to formalise a neigbourhood forum which will in turn allow it to create a neighbourhood plan or neighbourhood development order. These steps will allow planning decisions to be largely shaped by the wishes of the businesses at the park.

“However, while this is a positive step for the prosperity of the park, there is still a requirement for statutory consultees to be involved in planning decisions meaning that an element of frustration and delay could remain, so the designation is not a panacea.”