Bellway builds Walkden momentum with 200 homes
The housebuilder is set to win consent for up to 209 homes on a site off Hilton Lane, neighbouring a plot where Peel, Redrow, and Bloor are delivering 350 properties.
Bellway is planning to build the homes on a 16-acre plot, formerly playing fields and bordered by Peel’s development to the east and a nature park to the west. The land is allocated for around 200 homes under Salford’s Local Plan.
Bellway secured the site after it was put up for sale by Salford City Council around four years ago. It was formerly used as rugby and football pitches by St George’s High School in the 1980s and early 1990s.
A series of objections have been put forward against the proposals, with 65 objections received from residents as well as three objections from Peel.
Objections primarily focus on a loss of green space, and especially an increase in traffic; traffic assessments suggest the junction of Hilton Lane and Newearth Road near the site is “already over capacity”, while objectors also argued the mini roundabout was “dangerous and not fit for the amount of traffic using it, without the additional traffic proposed” as part of the development.
Letters sent to the council also argue Salford already has a five-year land supply. The Greater Manchester Ecological Unit has also signalled opposition to the project, arguing it would provide “insufficient semi-natural habitat”.
A number of residents had also argued the timing of the planning submission, put forward just before Christmas, meant that representations could not be put forward. One objector argued: “Planning permission was submitted prior to the Christmas break knowing members of the public would be too busy to respond.”
However, ahead of a meeting later this week, planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval, arguing the proposed access to the site was “acceptable” and noting the site would provide the necessary amount of affordable housing.
In a response to the timing of the application’s submission, officers said the plans were “publicised in line with legislation” and noted extra time for representations was given.
The proposed planning permission comes with an extensive Section 106 agreement, featuring a £581,000 contribution to education; public realm, open space, and sports pitch contributions of £150,000, £253,000, and £170,500 respectively; and £275,800 towards funding a shuttle bus service to the development.
Peel, Bloor, and Redrow secured consent to build on the Burgess Farm site in 2015.
An absolute joke this salford city Council is totaly obsessed with building after building where in the hell is the sheer volume of traffic going to go. Why is this so called of mass building in walkden. I am now convinced that government and local government is plotting to put a large amount of people in a small area. Control that all I can think of its not affordable housing its revenue. By council tax and its laughable what about pollution with cars this will generate. And finally these idiots in planning do not live in the area
By Bod Skoczypec
What a utter mess this is.
Yet more green space taken from us yet more traffic congestion in an already congested area. The builders and the council have clearly not thought this through. This is clearly a money grabbing investment for the builders and the council.
The already £275,800 shuttle bus the builders have already paid for and that operates when it feels like does not work and less then 5 people a day use it.
By Jack
Don’t suppose there’s any new roads going in.
By Kieron sharples
This is getting beyond a joke now. It takes me an hour and half already to get to work from Hilton lane to sale. This is a 20 minute journey, or should be.
Hilton lane never used to back up in the morning but now, most mornings I see it backing up increasingly. Sometimes all the way to the top of Hilton lane at the traffic lights.
They are building to many houses in this area. To many houses going up in walkden, Atherton and astley area all causing major problems and traffic build up.
It only takes 1 tiny car incident on the surrounding motorway networks for the traffic round here to come to a stand still.
Not only that. I have tried to get my daughter who starts reception this year into school. The two school that are far closer to where we live she has been rejected in. One of which is only 0.3 miles away from my house.
Instead I have been given a school 1 mile away. Where is the infrastructure along with these houses. Why am I being made to drive my daughter to school when I can walk her just round the corner to her nearest school.
There have been at least 500 house built in the walkden area so far and not 1 school as been opened.
Like I have read in other post. The council are only interested in the $$$ from these builds paying council tax.
By Richard Sharpe
Building all these extra homes on what was once school sites if this carries on around the area there will be no green land left its ridiculous. Also where are all the extra kids in the area going to get schoolex
By Anonymous
What a wonderful labour council, selling off all our green belt, leaving us with clogged up roads, weeks to wait for Dr’s appointments, no local school places, the most polluted area in the city etc etc thanks Labour Council!!!
By Caroline Dinnage