COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR PEATLAND RESTORATION FOLLOWING REMOVAL OF LAND IN IRLAM FROM GREATER MANCHESTER SPATIAL PLAN

Calls for funding for peatland restoration as affordable homes allocation north of Irlam train station is recommended to be removed from Greater Manchester's Spatial Plan.

A Salford councillor has spoken out after inspectors removed North Irlam from the Places for Everyone Plan.

Places for Everyone is a long-term plan of nine Greater Manchester districts (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan) for jobs, new homes, and sustainable growth. It has been published by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on behalf of the nine districts.

The plan determines the kind of development that takes place in each borough, maximizing the use of brownfield land and urban spaces while protecting Green Belt land from the risk of unplanned development. It will also ensure all new developments are sustainably integrated into Greater Manchester's transport network or supported by new infrastructure.

Following an additional hearing session held with representatives from Natural England, community organisations, residents and others, the Inspectors are recommending that the proposed North of Irlam Train Station allocation be removed from the plan.

Councillor Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford City Council said: 

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"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 9 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.

"The response to IN37 will be submitted in line with the inspectors' timetable. However, our initial response is that the recommendations on East of Boothstown and Port Salford Extension are positive in terms of assisting the City in working towards meeting housing need and supporting sustainable growth in Salford and Greater Manchester.

"We're disappointed with the inspectors' recommendation that the infrastructure -led North of Irlam Station allocation be removed from the Places for Everyone, particularly as this was based on representations from Natural England who substantially changed their position very late in the examination process, despite having had ample opportunities to make their revised position clear earlier in the process. 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.

"We recognise the value of restored peatland, but believe that the prospects for the restoration peatland of the North of Irlam Station allocation are very low if government funding isn't forthcoming. Further, 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. This is particularly the case given national government's apparent commitment to continue its austerity agenda with a disproportionate impact on local authorities and its rowing back on the priority being given to tackling climate change in both policy and resource terms.

"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, and we feel 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 4097 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)."

 

Photo ©: Google Earth - Inset Councillor Mike McCusker