Salford City Council has approved the allocation of £4.4m in Section 106 developer contributions for open space, sports facilities and affordable housing projects. The funding includes a major allocation linked to the Brackley Golf Course development, with additional sums drawn from several other schemes across the city.
Oldham councillors refused outline permission for 37 affordable homes in Royton, despite a planning officer recommendation for approval. The committee cited highway safety, land contamination, flooding and the loss of a designated green corridor, with members warned that these reasons could be vulnerable on appeal.
Manchester City Council’s planning committee has indicated it is minded to refuse a proposed 17-storey, 153-flat scheme off Rochdale Road. The main concerns were the absence of affordable housing, potential harm to the nearby grade II-listed Marble Arch public house, and the lack of parking.
The article reports that four local authorities, including Bolton and Tameside, have refused to amend their constitutions to align with the new National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions, which takes effect on 1 November. The scheme shifts more planning decisions from committees to officers and sets a national standard for referral, with councils warned that non-compliance could trigger judicial review, decision reversals and costs.
Manchester City Council has issued a formal decision notice for Oval Real Estate’s Albert Bridge House redevelopment, following completion of a Section 106 agreement. The scheme will replace the existing office block with two residential towers and a smaller office building, although start on site still depends on Building Safety Regulator Gateway 2 approval.
Falconer Chester Hall has promoted three staff members as the practice expands its focus on high-risk and tall-building work under the Building Safety Act regime. The firm says it has secured multiple Gateway approvals and consents and is positioning itself to provide both architectural and principal designer services for compliant delivery of tall buildings.
Stretford Grammar School is consulting on plans for a new campus on its Green Belt site in Stretford, with a planning application expected later this autumn. The scheme, backed by the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme, would replace the existing estate with a new 84,500 sq ft teaching block and associated sports and outdoor facilities, targeting completion in summer 2029.
