ForViva to acquire land for Salford homes 

The housing provider is to buy a plot on Edison Road in Eccles from Salford City Council to bring forward 51 affordable homes. 

The council and ForViva have agreed heads of terms for the sale of the Edison Road site, which comprises former tennis courts and a bowling green, but no price has been disclosed. 

A valuation of the site conducted in 2019 valued the land at £55,000, according to a council report.

The agreement comes after ForViva had initially planned to redevelop a different site nearby – the former bowling green belonging to The Rock pub on Peel Green Road. 

However, the council expressed concerns over the density of that proposed scheme and ForViva opted to end negotiations with landowner Punch Taverns and turn its attention to the Edison Road site. 

As part of the deal, which would see ForViva sign a 250-year lease on the 1.1-acre site, the firm has agreed to sell a strip of land it owns on Higson Avenue to the council. 

The Higson Avenue land would have been used as a point of access under ForViva’s plans for The Rock bowling green.

Salford City Council hopes that acquiring the land will “limit the scale of what may be delivered on the site”, according to a council report. Salford has also expressed a desire to see the bowling green converted into allotments. 

Terms have also been agreed between the two parties for the Higson Road site. 

Story update as of 27 October 2020: 

A spokesperson for Salford City Council said: “The council has a duty to safeguard the privacy of financial information for commercial partners.

“A decision is to be made on whether ForViva can buy a plot of land on Edison Road in Eccles from Salford City Council. This will be made on Monday 9 November.

“To protect the financial information of ForViva, there are two parts to the council report about the potential sale. One part is published and publicly available, and the second part is not publicly available.

“The figure of £55,000 is in the part one document and reflects the existing use value of the land. This is different to the proposed disposal price. The sales price is in the part two document, which is commercially sensitive and not available for the public.

“However, we would confirm that the provisionally agreed sales price does represent best value for the site and is in line with the price estimates the gentleman has indicated.”

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How does a piece of land valued at £55k not come to the open market, especially when 55 houses can be built on it. As a cash strapped council, it hardly seems logical that an at arms length organisation should benefit from a piece of land that has obviously had its value wrote down over the years. Clear transparency should be given, especially when the council is selling off assets that belong to the people. Realistically you would expect a value of £10k -£15k per plot, which is somewhat different from the price above

By Paul A Smollett

A spokesperson from Salford City Council said: “The council has a duty to safeguard the privacy of financial information for commercial partners.

“A decision is to be made on whether ForViva can buy a plot of land on Edison Road in Eccles from Salford City Council. This will be made on Monday 9 November.

“To protect the financial information of ForViva there are two parts to the council report about the potential sale. One part is published and publicly available, and the second part is not publicly available.

“The figure of £55,000 is in the part one document and reflects the existing use value of the land. This is different to the proposed disposal price. The sales price is in the part two document which is commercially sensitive and not available for the public, although we would confirm that the provisionally agreed sales price does represent best value for the site and is in line with the price estimates the gentleman has indicated.”

By salford City Council

Gone are bowling greens and tennis courts, although not used, why can the council not provide all weather sports facilities for the local kids instead? There is a junior football club based here and also a school across the road that could easily make full use of the facility, it is poor on the councils part. It will be interesting to see the extent of the S106 that is agreed here and also the contribution to Sport England to Sport & Open space as this is taking away Rea reaction always space. I also agree with the comment below, how can this be a cut & dried deal before it goes on the open market.

By Sam H

Surely before any decisions are made the local residents would be asked for their thoughts and opinions.
The density of traffic is already at breaking point. I would hope to be invited to any future meetings where residents of the area would be listened to.

By Lesley martin

Totally agree with many of the comments below. Traffic and parking has become a major issue on this street in recent years, due mainly to flats (who have allocated parking). Therefore more housing on this street is going to create further overcrowding. Roads and access in and around Peel Green is already at breaking point.
Recreational space is disappearing at alarming rates in the borough. The charm and appeal of living on this road is slowly disappearing. Such a shame for local residents.

By Anonymous

You are unable to get in and out of this street from October until the end of February due to Trafford Centre traffic. How on earth could someone give planning permission for this huge development.
This has to be stopped!
We already had the inconvenience of the relocation of The Conservative Club. Living for years with an eyesore and being told several different plans for the sight.
Access in and out of this street will not support this development.

By G. Sudden

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