I'm begging developers not to build Hazelhurst Farm homes as Worsley's services and roads can't cope

The scheme, by Peel Land, was given the green light by Salford council’s planning panel during a meeting on March 20, with ten votes in favour and two against.

It will see the land turned into a new neighbourhood between the M60 and East Lancs Road, with a new linear park, village green, and space allocated for a potential primary school in future.

The scheme includes 80 affordable homes at the development site, with a contribution to build a further 120 elsewhere in the city. The land was part of Salford’s green belt but has lost its status under Greater Manchester’s Places for Everyone scheme.

But the plans were met by huge backlash from some local residents and councillors, who raised concerns about how the roads will cope with the extra traffic.

Members of the public and two Worsley ward councillors packed into the planning committee’s meeting room at Salford Civic Centre as the debate got started, but council staff said they had to open the main chamber to find space for everyone who wanted to attend.

The debate lasted nearly three hours, with a number of objectors speaking against the plans.

Nicole Marston, a 26-year-old local resident, said that services “are already overstretched,” and would be under more pressure with extra cars on the roads.

Another resident said roads in the area are “failing, with large pot holes everywhere”, with some finding it “impossible to get off their driveways” when heading to work in the morning.

A third objector added: “We do not have the infrastructure, I can’t get in to my doctor’s to get a face-to-face appointment, it’s impossible, I’ve near enough given up.

“Parents can’t get their children in local schools, the traffic is at breaking point, especially in the mornings.

“I’m begging you for the entire sake of the Worsley region, please reconsider this. Build your 400 houses elsewhere, not on green belt or green field sites.”

Peel Land’s application for the work included funding towards off-site highway upgrades in the area, including improvements to bus stops, certain roads, and money for new controlled crossing facilities.

Before the meeting, council officers had recommended that the plans be approved, and advised that while the development ‘would inevitably introduce additional traffic onto an already busy network’, this would ‘not be severe’.

But Conservative Coun Bob Clarke said it would be “irresponsible” to build homes where there were already existing infrastructure concerns.

“You can’t say that this is not severe, it’s excessively severe because we’re already at severe, and we can’t continue pouring petrol on the fire trying to put it out, because it doesn’t work,” he added.

“I’ve got no objection to building houses, but you can’t subject the existing residents of Salford to abject misery where they can’t get to work, and they can’t get their kids to school.”

Labour Coun Mike McCusker, the council’s planning lead, moved that the plans be approved.

He pointed out that more people are choosing to live in Salford which has a growing population, and explained the need for family homes alongside the council’s “brownfield-first” planning policy.

“We have a housing crisis going on, this brings 80 truly affordable properties onto the site itself, and a significant financial contribution that will allow us to build more affordable properties off-site, that’s a significant benefit for Salford council because it’s meeting the needs of our residents,” he added.

Independent Coun Andrew Walters joined Coun Bob Clarke in voting against the proposal, while the rest of the planning committee voted in favour.

Conservative Coun Robin Garrido stood down from the panel for the debate in order to speak as a ward councillor, so he was not given a vote, but he claimed there was limited space for more cars along roads around the development area.

He said: “I am pleading with members to vote against it today, it’s not suitable, it’s not practical, and it won’t work.”

A Peel Land spokesperson said: “The positive outcome from Salford’s planning panel is the result of years of engaging with the council and local stakeholders to develop plans for a new neighbourhood that meets local needs.

“We look forward to seeing the delivery of a thriving community of new homes and enhanced green space for the local community.”