Plan for 400 homes approved

Application for ex-green belt land gets green light despite huge backlash

- DECLAN CAREY

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 400 homes on Hazelhurst Farm in Worsley have been approved.

The scheme, by Peel Land, was given the green light by Salford council's planning panel during a meeting on March 20, with ten votes in favour and two against.

It will see the land turned into a new neighbourhood between the M60 and East Lancs Road, with a new linear park, village green, and space allocated for a potential primary school in future.

The scheme includes 80 affordable homes at the development site, with a contribution to build a further 120 elsewhere in the city. The land was part of Salford's green belt but has lost its status under Greater Manchester's Places for Everyone scheme. But the plans were met by huge backlash from some local residents and councillors, who raised concerns about how the roads will cope with the extra traffic.

Members of the public and two Worsley ward councillors packed into the planning committee's meeting room at Salford Civic Centre as the debate got started, but council staff said they had to open the main chamber to find space for everyone who wanted to attend.

The debate lasted nearly three hours, with a number of objectors speaking against the plans.