MAG plans 9,000 parking spaces on ex-green belt
MANCHESTER Airports Group wants to turn 28 acres of former green belt land near Manchester Airport into 9,000 car parking spaces.
The application will be considered by the city council next week and has been recommended for approval by the head of planning despite widespread opposition from local residents.
More than 2,000 people have signed petitions and a further 34 have written to the council opposing the loss of open space and expressing concern over congestion and pollution.
MAG says it needs the site, bounded by Styal Road, Ringway Road and Shadowmoss Road, because its Airport City scheme, and the airport link road, will use some of its existing parking space. It currently has 23,000 spaces but predicts it will need an additional 7,100 by October 2014.
The land was classed as green belt until last summer when it was removed after a long term development plan was adopted by the council which recognised the site would be required by the airport.
A report prepared for the planning committee said: “The principle of developing this site was considered as part of the review of the city’s development plan, namely the core strategy. At that time evidence was provided to support the proposed policy to remove the site from the green belt which was, as part of the process, subject to an examination in public.
“It is acknowledged, however, at a detailed level there would inevitably be some impact arising from the development. However, it is considered that the proposal has been designed to reduce impacts upon the levels of visual and residential amenity enjoyed by the occupants of the nearby residential properties. Furthermore, the associated landscaping treatment throughout the site will mitigate against the loss of the existing poor quality landscape features.”
The plan is being opposed by the council’s Wythenshawe Area Committee.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “We always take a pro-active approach to consultation and we welcome the thoughts from stakeholders and the local community. We have listened to the comments of local residents and we will continue to work with them in order to address any concerns people might have.”
