Trafford retains right to rule on Ryebank Fields
The council voted against relinquishing its planning powers to Manchester City Council when it comes to determining the controversial 120-home scheme, despite less than 1% of the site being located in Trafford.
Given that almost all of the 10-acre site is located within Manchester’s boundary, Trafford Council’s planning officers had recommended that the committee give the neighbouring local authority the power to determine Step Places, Southway Housing Trust, and landowner Manchester Metropolitan University’s controversial plans for a new neighbourhood at Ryebank Fields.
Read more about the housing proposals
Some 0.04 acres of the wider Chorlton plot is under Trafford’s jurisdiction, which meant plans were submitted to both Manchester City Council and Trafford Council.
Councillors felt that the authority should retain an element of control in the outcome of the application, citing the likely impacts of the development on Trafford residents.
There now begins a race against the clock to get the application in front of the committee by the end of October when the national scheme of delegation for planning applications comes into force, so that Trafford’s councillors can in fact have their say.
Under the national scheme of delegation, the application concerning Ryebank, insofar as it relates to Trafford, would be considered a schedule one scheme due to its size and would therefore be determined by officers rather than by councillors.
Dr. Rhetta Moran, Chair of Ryebank Fields Community Group, said: “We are delighted that Trafford Council’s planning committee unanimously rejected the proposal to delegate decisions affecting Trafford residents to Manchester City Council. “The proposed access through Trafford would fundamentally change the character of our road and result in the loss of our community garden, which is an asset of community value.
“We expect our elected representatives to listen to and respect the views of local residents, and we thank Trafford councillors for doing so. We remain firmly opposed to the MMU development proposals as we believe there are serious questions about the viability and deliverability of the scheme. We will continue to do all we can to protect Ryebank Fields and the interests of the communities directly affected by these proposals.”
On Thursday [24th], an application to retain the land at Ryebank Fields as a community meadow will be considered by Manchester City Council. The application was submitted to a campaign group opposing the housing plans.
