More than 1,000 people have objected to a plan to build hundreds of homes next to RHS Bridgewater in Worsley, Salford. Peel Land has submitted a planning application to build on a plot located east of Boothstown, using ‘released’ green belt land. It’s based next to the 156-acre Royal Horticultural Society garden, which is a popular attraction for residents in Greater Manchester and beyond. A previous scheme for the site was withdrawn by the developer after feedback from the community and town hall. But 1,048 objections to the new plan have been submitted to Salford council, with nine people in support. Bob Clarke, a Conservative councillor for Boothstown and Ellenbrook, suggested the objections to the new scheme shows it has “little public support.” Last month, another Salford Conservative councillor, Les Turner, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that new housing in the area would strain local services, which are at “breaking point.” He added: “The problem with all these houses is we can’t build at that scale without the infrastructure to accommodate it. We need more homes, but we need more doctors and dentists, and transport infrastructure.” Concerns were also raised about the impact of extra traffic on Leigh Road to the north of the site, which Mr Turner said is “at saturation already.” Peel Land recognised the infrastructure concerns, but pointed out that the application includes an “updated assessment of all the infrastructure issues, including transport, education and health.” The company added that a discussion is ongoing with the relevant authorities over transport mitigation and active travel. Half of the proposed 295 homes would be designated as ‘affordable’, and the scheme includes contributions from the developer towards more affordable housing around Salford. The plan includes creating new play parks and active travel routes, as well as improved connectivity to the RHS Garden Bridgewater and the Bridgewater Canal. Before work can begin, the scheme needs to get the green light from Salford council’s planning committee. The leader of Salford Conservatives, Robin Garrido, is on the panel which will decide the application, as is Mr Clarke. Salford is a city in urgent need of new housing, with a shortage of affordable homes and a growing homelessness crisis affecting residents. It has a rising population, and the council is planning to build more council homes to try to meet the demand for accommodation.
