CBI shows support for Green Lane Eco Park

Sky Properties said it has received further support for a £70m recycling and renewable energy centre to be built on disused industrial land off Green Lane in Monton, Salford.

A planning decision is due to be made on 19 May by Salford City Council for the Green Lane Eco Park.

Sky Properties said the Confederation of British Industry is backing its plans and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and North West Institute of Directors have also shown support.

A group of local residents in Eccles and Monton oppose the plans saying Green Lane Eco Park will have a negative impact on the local community and feel its location is too close to residential properties and could cause health risk.

In a letter to Salford City Council, Damian Waters, regional director of the CBI in the North West, said: "Sky Properties' proposals offer an opportunity for much-needed economic development in an area of Salford in dire need of support. Additionally the plans for the Eco Park offer both long-term economic investment and a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions.

"I consider that there is an overwhelming case in support of this application being approved; not only are there very sound economic reasons for approving the application, there is also a strong environmental case in support."

Sky Properties said the Eco Park could potentially provide enough energy to power 15,000 homes as well as heat for local businesses.

Sky added it would incorporate a gasification technology from ENERGOS, a division of Salford-based sustainable energy business ENER-G.

If granted planning permission, Sky Properties aims to start construction this year, which is expected to take two years to complete.

Sky acquired the land in 2003 as the former home of the Mitchell & Shackleton engineering company.

Sky Properties previously sought planning permission for houses on the site. In 2006, Salford City Council refused planning permission for an application for housing on the Green Lane site, and an appeal to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government was rejected, upholding the council's decision to protect the site's designation for employment use.

The development of the site for waste uses is in conformity with Salford City Council's development plan and the site was deemed suitable for waste uses in the Greater Manchester waste development plan document preferred options in November 2009.

Sky Properties has carried out work to make the land safe over the past few years, including clearing it of toxic substances, demolishing unsafe structures and making it secure from unwanted attention from travellers and vandals.

A group of residents plan two protests on Saturday 14 May at Shackleton Street Park in Eccles and on Thursday 19 May outside the main entrance of the Civic Centre in Swinton, Salford.