THE BATTLE FOR BROADOAK - AGAIN

As we previously reported in May, the time is fast coming upon us for what seems like the annual attempt by Peel Holdings to ride roughshod over the Environment, Local Planners, Local Councillors and Local People, in its attempt to once more build 600 new homes in Broadoak.

October 3rd will see behemoth Peel Square off with the Council and Local Campaigners in its attempts to push through its planning proposals for Broadoak, much to the annoyance of the Council, Protesters, Local People and pretty much anyone with a a few brain cells and a shred of sense and decency. 

The Council and Local Protest group Residents Against Inappropriate Development (RAID) have previously stopped Peel in their tracks after convincing not only Salford Council in 2013 but also the then secretary of state for communities and local government, Mr Eric Pickles MP in 2015, that it should not be allowed to go ahead.

Nonetheless Peel refused to accept the outcome and quickly lodged an appeal at the high court which was granted (at public expense), a re running of the enquiry to develop the greenfield site, of which is a mixture of woods, meadows and open land, stretches from Monton Green all the way through to Worsley Road, and is protected by policies in Salford's Unitary Development Plan.

Local Protest group Residents Against Inappropriate Development (RAID) – which formed in 2013 - argued at the previous inquiry that the development would bring more traffic and higher levels of air pollution into an already congested area.

Peel will also find out tomorrow the outcome of an attempt to build 165 new homes on what it is calling Broadoak South, those opposed to the development say that it too would still bring higher air polution and congestion as well as not only that but the local area would require up to an additional 47 primary school place which it simply does not have available.

Peel have proposed to hand over a stretch of land they own to the council as a sweetener, so that they can build a new Primary school upon it. They have also promised a financial contribution towards building it. The school would of course also be built upon greenfield land which would further impact on the area's green space.

As soon as we know the councils decision we will report upon it.

In 2015 when the decision for refusal was made, Councillor Derek Antrobus (Assistant Mayor for Strategic Planning) said:

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“We are pleased that our planning policy has been strong enough to resist attempts to take away a valuable open space for development.”

“We urge Peel Group to start to develop the sites it has permission for on brownfield land and to work with the Council and the community through a Local Plan to identify the best sites to meet the housing needs of future generations.”

 

Whilst the then City Mayor Ian Stewart remarked:

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“The Worsley Greenway is a precious asset for the people of Salford.”

"There is no doubt we need new homes but there are many other sites that should be used first and can be used away from our precious green spaces.”

 

Salford's current City Mayor Paul Dennett wrote to the government urging them to help local councils up and down the land protect valuable green spaces by urgently making much needed changes to the national planning policy.

Paul said in May 2016:

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“The court judgement means that policies to protect local green spaces – the policies Salford City Council relied on in rejecting this inappropriate development – now do not have the force they should under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).”

“This has implications for every council in the country and risks much of our green and pleasant land disappearing under building projects.

“I’ve written to Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government urging him to review the NPPF urgently to make sure local councils have the power they need to protect valuable green spaces. Our main reason for refusing these 600 homes was to preserve much valued open space between Monton and Worsley but that has been undermined by this court ruling. However Salford council will defend its position when the Broadoak inquiry is re-run.”

 

So it seems there will be one final battle before the war is won.

We would also urge readers to check out this article on the matter on Salford Star aswell.

Salford Star - SALFORD BATTLE WITH PEEL HOLDINGS BEGINS AGAIN