New affordable apartments set for Salford in three new developments

Salford councillors have given the green light for three new property developments in the area.

A new nine-storey building in Chapel Street will feature 96 affordable flats.

There will be 63 affordable apartments at another residential block approved in Pendleton, replacing a 17-storey tower which is currently being demolished.

And a community-led housing scheme with 21 houses and 24 flats at a former school in Charlestown – where a listed mural will be saved – can also go ahead.

It comes as more than 6,000 households are on the waiting list for council housing with an average of 129 bids for every home which becomes available.

Salford council’s planning panel voted to approve these three applications on Thursday, but a decision on another development was delayed.

Plans to build 177 dwellings at the former site of Harrop Fold High School in Longshaw Drive – of which 96 homes would be affordable – were due to be discussed at the planning meeting, but they will now be heard in December.

Like the proposed development in Little Hulton, Salford council is behind the new housing estate planned at the former school site off Blandford Road.

But once the Irwell Valley development at the former Cromwell Secondary School for Girls is built, it is set to be handed over to the Broughton Trust.

The estate will consist of 21 houses and an apartment block with 24 flats.

And a mural which was saved when the school was demolished a decade ago will be at the centre of plans for the new community-led housing development.

The Tree of Knowledge mural, created by Stockport-born Alan Boyson, was retained when the Cromwell Secondary School for Girls was knocked down.

The relief mural, erected on an exterior wall of the school building in 1962, was given Grade-II listed status and will now feature as part of the housing estate.

Labour councillor Mike McCusker, who is the lead member for planning and sustainable development at Salford council, welcomed the housing plans.

He said: “It’s exactly what the city needs.”

In Pendleton, where Cherry Tree Court is currently being demolished, a new residential scheme with 63 affordable apartments will be built in Kiwi Street.

The new apartment building will be four, five and eight storeys in height and will be managed by The Guinness Partnership with funding from Homes England.

However, the 1960s tower block which it replaces had 36 more apartments.

Pendleton and Charlestown councillor John Warmisham welcomed the development – but urged Guinness to ‘make sure it’s managed well’.

He said: “The loss of the 17-storey block was a huge concern, but when you look at what’s going to replace, I think it will be really good for the area.”

The new apartment block in Chapel Street, which will be between seven and nine-storeys in height, was part of the original plans for this part of Salford.

The site, which was home to stalwart store Shalimar, faces Salford Cathedral.

There will be 44 one-bedroom and 52 two-bedroom flats in the new building, most of which will be available as part of a ‘rent to buy’ ownership scheme.

The development will also feature a public square to be named St John’s Place.

A total of 13 objections were received in response to the planning application, including from residents concerned about the loss of light behind the building.

Norma Baldacchino, a resident who spoke at the planning meeting, told councillors on the panel that the area has been ‘over developed’ recently.

She said: “If anyone knows Chapel Street, it’s just like New York now.”

Some councillors were sympathetic, saying they do not like the design of many of the new buildings which have appeared in Chapel Street in recent years.

However, the panel agreed that the principle of development on the site has already been established and the majority voted in favour of the application.