Footpath wrangle fails to halt new homes plan in Salford

A new housing development is set to be built on land where the former Harrop Fold High School was located off Longshaw Drive in Little Hulton.

Salford Council is behind the scheme which would include 66 houses and 30 apartments available as part of an affordable or social rent arrangement, with the rest of the properties to be sold or let within the private rental market.

But the future of a ‘footpath’ which runs through the site is still unknown.

Residents in Quarry Pond Road objected to the application which would cut off pedestrian access from their estate to shops and services in Little Hulton.

However, Salford council bosses have argued that the ‘track’ which runs across the former school’s playing fields has never been a public right of way.

What happened at the committee then?

Despite the issue remaining unresolved, councillors on the planning panel approved the application on Thursday (16 December) – but with a caveat.

A plot of land on the site has now been ‘safeguarded’ to allow for pedestrian acces in the event that any legal claim of a public right of way is successful.

Planning officer Andrew Williams told the panel that the amended application features a footpath between Quarry Pond Road and the new housing estate.

And if the existence of a public right of way is not established, he explained, this safeguarded land would be absorbed into the gardens of the properties.

He said: “Whilst recognising that this route is not on the council’s definitive map, nor has a formal claim been made for a definitive map modification order to legally establish that the trail represents a public right of way, the applicant is continuing to investigate this matter.”

A total of 11 of the new council-owned homes will be wheelchair accessible – a figure which Conservative councillor Bob Clarke said was ‘not good enough’.

All the homes to be built on the brownfield land be environmentally-friendly.

Although 45 trees will be removed from the site, they will be replaced at a ratio of two to one meaning there will be a net gain in biodiversity in the city overall.

As part of the plans for the development, £45,000 will be spent on draining the sports pitches at Amblecote Playing Fields which are located nearby.

Traffic humps will be introduced on Longshaw Drive and the speed limit will be reduced as part of the plans for a new school set to be built on the same site.

Salford council has agreed to transfer the land in the southern section of the site where the new school is set to be built by the Star Leadership Academy.

Plans for the two-storey secondary school have been submitted to the council.