A U-turn on plans to build 800 homes on Irlam’s greenbelt has been criticised by a Salford councillor.
The planned development on part of Chat Moss off Astley Road, on land north of Irlam Station, was part of the Places for Everyone housing plan, but was scrapped by planning inspectors on Friday, July 28, after 10 years of campaigning by residents and some local councillors.
Thirty hectares of the Moss – areas which had “degraded due to decades of drainage and agricultural activity” according to planning documents – would have been zoned for housing including affordable homes.
Councillor Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford City Council, said: “We’re disappointed with the inspectors’ recommendation that the infrastructure-led North of Irlam Station allocation be removed from Places for Everyone.”
He is concerned that, as a result, demand for affordable housing and peatland restoration will not be met.
He said: “The development of this site could have generated much needed funding for compensatory restoration in another area of Chat Moss so that it could act as an ecological asset and carbon sink, which would be very unlikely to happen without government funding or the possibility of carbon offsetting funding.
“Additionally we’re also acutely aware of the need for a supply of truly affordable housing in this area to help us tackle the homelessness and housing crisis we’re facing in Cadishead, Irlam and the City of Salford generally.
“This very sustainably located site could have provided a significant number of affordable homes in the most sustainable way, making a positive difference to hundreds of families.
“There are 4,097 people currently on the housing waiting list and 584 households in temporary accommodation (185 requiring single accommodation and 399 families with 253 of those with 2 or more children).”
Cllr McCusker also stressed that the homes plan was based on representations from Natural England which then substantially changed its position very late in the examination process. The area to be zoned for housing had already been halved from original plans to build 1,600 homes on the moss.
He said: “We have now received the inspectors’ note following the recent hearing sessions addressing peat. We note the findings detailed within the inspectors note which, if approved by the nine districts, will form the basis of a forthcoming consultation on modifications to the spatial plan, and look forward to working with Natural England and government more generally to realise the Wetlands Vision.
“We will be writing to Natural England to understand their proposals to accelerate peat restoration on Chat Moss, in line with Greater Manchester’s overall aims.”
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