A portion of Salford's green belt, known as 'East of Boothstown', has been released for the construction of high-end homes. The site has lost its green belt status under the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone scheme, meaning 300 homes can be built on the land.
Salford council was the first in the region to adopt the Places for Everyone initiative, aiming to construct 28,000 homes in the borough by 2039. This week, a planning application for 26 homes on the land east of Boothstown, based on the derelict Booths Bank Farm off Leigh Road, was submitted.
The application indicates that the homes are intended to attract and retain highly skilled workers within Greater Manchester. Plans for the area include preserving Alder Wood and other mature woodland areas, and "enhancing the ecological value of Shaw Brook".
The site is situated near the RHS Garden Bridgewater and houses in the scheme are expected to feature large front and back gardens and a central woodland play space. There are also plans to improve connections to Leigh Road.
A culvert will be removed as part of the plans to transform Shaw Brook into a central landscaped feature. Planning documents reveal that discussions regarding the number of affordable homes in the scheme are still underway, reports .
In Worsley, green belt construction has sparked controversy, with both residents and councillors opposing previous plans to develop on released land. Last year, Peel Land's application to construct 300 homes in Worsley was met with over 1,000 objections submitted to Salford council by local residents.
In June, Boothstown locals their concerns about the village's ability to handle an influx of people and vehicles.
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