A long-standing campaign from the Salford Lib Dems warning against the proposed development at Regent Retail Park is heating up as the developers submit what they say is a profit-over- people planning application for the site.
Cllr Paul Heilbron, leader of the Salford Liberal Democrats and councillor of Quays ward, initiated the campaign in March 2023. Along with Cllr Moore, also from the Quays ward, they have been advocating for a fair use of the site that prioritises the interests of the residents. The prolonged campaign is calling for the developers to ‘think again’ about their proposals. The current plans see 3300 flats to be built across ten separate apartment blocks, one of which has been dubbed the ‘Salford Shard’ as it will be the biggest building outside of London.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Jonathan Moore said:
“A scheme that has no affordable housing, loses crucial and much used retail space, which compounds already existing traffic and parking issues, has no plan to reduce crime, minimal green space, and no mention of increased public services, has no place to be built on Regent Retail Park“.
“Having no affordable homes in a development of 3300 flats is quite frankly a disgrace”.
The Liberal Democrat councillors have set out their “Alternative vision” for the Retail Park with their three main priorities being; the inclusion of provision of affordable homes, increased green space, and a major rethink on the additional parking and traffic complications that the current plans will create in an already troublesome area for both these issues.
They also call for additional police on the beat, increased school places, more hospital and GP capacity, extra buses, and pollution offsetting measures to be in the plans.
Read More: Regent Retail Park Redevelopment Moves Forward As Outline Planning Application Submitted and Plans Tabled For £1bn Development In Salford With 70-Storey
The Salford Liberal Democrat say their team are pro-regeneration in the area and encourage inward investment but the type that priorities people over profit and puts the needs of the community as a whole at the heart of its framework. A people- before- profit regeneration that guarantees adequate business units, green spaces, and affordable housing in the proposals. One of their pledges is to stop unsustainable overbuilding in Salford by ensuring that all development has appropriate infrastructure, services, and amenities in place before planning applications are passed. They are calling for any new flat developments being to have public service increases guaranteed.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Heilbron said:
“We unfortunately have no power to reject this planning application. The current composition of the planning committee is nine Labour, two Conservative and 1 Independent councillors. Our hope is the majority of these councillors will use common sense and see the application in its current form as totally unacceptable and one that will devastate an already beleaguered community. It is time to re-balance the focus towards the needs of current and future residents, rather than simply on maximising profit”.
The team also calls on the public to engage with the consultation process by submitting objections on the planning portal which can be found here on Salford City Council’s Planning Portal. Application number – PA/2024/0962
