Messenger-backed campaign blocks Hale Barns development
9:38am Thursday 10th April 2008
JUBILANT campaigners have won their two-year battle to stop a controversial redevelopment of the Square shopping centre in Hale Barns.
Planning inspector Martin Pike has given the thumbs-down to the scheme, almost four months after the end of a public inquiry that lasted for 16 days stretching over nine months.
The massive opposition to the development was spearheaded by the Hale Barns Residents' Response (HBRR) group - and backed by Messenger.
HBRR thanked Messenger for its support and hailed the decision as a 'major victory for the community of Hale Barns."
The inspector backed the campaigners' claim that the proposed centre was too large.
The campaign went into overdrive when developers Citybranch appealed against the decision of Trafford's planning committee to reject the proposed development.
The scheme would have seen the existing shopping precinct replaced with a much larger development comprising a 19,000 sq ft Waitrose supermarket, 14 shops, 51 flats and a large underground car park.
Rev Rob Hinton of HBRR said their opposition was not based on 'NIMBYism', as the community accepted from the outset that a facelift or redevelopment was appropriate - "but not something of a scale that would overwhelm Hale Barns, bring huge traffic congestion, and disrupt community life."
He said they were now looking forward to future improvements being made that enhanced the village: "Today's decision is a triumph for common sense for a cause that has brought together all sectors of the community and given us a sense of shared identity. The message to the Citybranch and its directors is that we appreciate they are trying to enhance and update the Square but it has been shown that the plans drawn up are for a scheme unsuitable for a local village centre with restricted highways.
"Our fight has been against the oversized development plans, not against Citybranch. We now look forward to Citybranch scaling down their plans and redesigning the scheme so that is appropriate."
Mr Pike said in his conclusion: "The decision requires a balanced judgement to be reached between the merits of the scheme and those aspects which would cause harm. I consider that the improvements to Hale Barns and the other benefits of the scheme are not sufficient to outweigh my finding that the proposal is too large to be directly related to the role and function of the centre and its catchment, and is thereby in conflict with PPS6 and the development plan."HBRR'S supporters donated nearly £60,000 to a fund the legal fight - but the group still needs contributions of £2,800 to cover its costs.
Trafford Council welcomed the inspector's decision.
Paul Harvey, the director of environment, said: "The inspector has looked very carefully at all the arguments for and against the development scheme. The council and the inspector accept that a redevelopment of the shopping centre would be of value to the Hale Barns community, and the council looks forward to working with the owners, Citybranch Ltd, and the local community to ensure that a scheme of a more appropriate size is promoted."
Cllr Ian Mullins, who represents Hale Barns ward, said: "I am delighted that the inspector has refused the appeal. Residents of Hale Barns have had this proposal hanging over them like the Sword of Damocles for the past couple of years. It is with a great sense of relief that the village and local community have had this threat removed.
"What needs to be reflected upon is how the parties concerned ever reached the position of an appeal in the first place. The council has used hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money on dealing with this single application.
"Had common sense prevailed from the beginning, and politicians, planners and developers agreed on a scheme that was right for Hale Barns, so much time, energy and money would not have been expended for absolutely no end result.
"We should be certain that this is a victory for local people and the local community, who have come together as individuals and united to become a real force. Together they have taken on the council and subsequently the developers, and emerged with the decision that they knew to be correct at the very beginning."
Citybranch director Adam Gross said: "Obviously we are very disappointed with the appeal decision. We will review the inspector's report in detail before deciding on the way forward."