Decision due on airport’s 9,000-space car park

MANCHESTER’S planning committee will today revisit a proposal from the Manchester Airports Group (MAG) to turn 28 acres of former green belt land into 9,000 car parking spaces.

It was recommended for approval at last month but was deferred for a site visit by members of the planning committee.

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.”