Trafford Council officers are recommending that the authority take back the Sale Waterside office complex when its PFI contract expires in October 2028, rather than leave the asset in the contractor’s ownership. The council is also considering purchasing the commercial units and is planning a condition survey in 2027 to manage any hand-back liabilities and future maintenance responsibilities.
Development consent orders have been granted for the onshore transmission infrastructure supporting the Morgan and Morecambe offshore wind farms in Fylde. The scheme includes export cables, transition joint bays, two onshore substations and underground connections to the National Grid, despite local objections over the proposed Green Belt substation sites and the current absence of a developer for Morgan.
Anwyl plans to appeal Denbighshire County Council’s refusal of a 59-home affordable housing scheme at Maes Farrelly in Rhyl, despite the application being recommended for approval by planning officers. The committee rejected the proposal on greenfield, settlement-boundary and highway-impact grounds, while the developer argues the scheme would help meet significant local affordable housing need.
Preston City Council’s planning committee has unanimously removed a remaining barrier to Morris Homes and CEG delivering 443 homes in Cottam, following discussions over affordable housing and the associated Section 106 agreement. The revised approach allows the scheme to proceed with 62 affordable homes, with the developers arguing that nearby affordable provision should be considered alongside the adjacent Breck scheme.
Wirral Council has unanimously refused Peak Cluster permission to access council-owned land for survey work related to a proposed carbon capture pipeline. The decision is likely to delay the project, though councillors acknowledged it may not ultimately prevent the scheme from progressing through other legal routes.
The article is a light news roundup covering several North West planning and regeneration stories, including a nature-access project in Greater Manchester, a public consultation event in Middleton, and a council-led parking scheme in Conwy that has raised flood concerns. It also notes local opposition to the Peak Cluster pipeline in Wirral, alongside a separate leisure venue opening in Liverpool.
Manchester City Council’s executive is being asked to approve a compulsory purchase order for a single derelict residential property at the former Reno nightclub site in Moss Side. The CPO would unlock a wider regeneration scheme by Mosscare St Vincent’s for 212 affordable homes, including social rent homes, alongside community space.
Stockport Council has updated its draft local plan, which would allocate land for around 24,253 homes and additional employment space through to 2042. The plan still falls short of the borough’s identified housing and employment needs, despite proposing the release of around 30 Green Belt sites and revising several allocations after consultation and viability review.
Bury Council is expected to approve Watson Construction as preferred bidder for two council-owned brownfield sites, Pyramid Park and Q-Park, with the aim of delivering around 200 homes. The scheme is tied to wider town centre regeneration, including remediation works, transport interchange improvements and the need to resolve existing lease and occupational interests at Q-Park.
Cityside has submitted plans for an 88-home residential scheme in Wilmslow on 10 acres of Green Belt land, which it says meets Grey Belt criteria. The proposal includes a landscape-led layout with a shared meadow, orchard and 45% affordable housing, but the application has not yet been validated by Cheshire East Council.
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing is advancing plans for the next phase of regeneration at Lower Falinge, with a hybrid application expected for the demolition of existing stock and the delivery of 270 affordable rent homes. The scheme covers two parcels of land north of Rochdale town centre and forms part of a longer-running council-led regeneration strategy for the area.
Rochdale Council has secured an option agreement to acquire the long-vacant Warwick Mill in Middleton, with Capital&Centric positioned to lead redevelopment if the deal progresses. The council will use a four-month exclusivity period to complete due diligence, while feasibility work is already under way for a potential residential-led conversion of the grade II-listed former cotton mill.
