PLANS for a £1bn development on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal that will provide 3,000 homes and create 5,000 jobs have been given the green light.

But despite the approval, the scheme will face significant delays if the ongoing dispute between Salford council and developers Peel – about who will pay for the neighbouring Irlam bridge – isn’t resolved.

The lengthy row is one reason Trafford council reconsidered plans for Trafford Waters on Thursday, which it approved despite the wrangling between Salford town hall and Peel, who have not yet agreed who should fund the operation and future maintenance of the Irlam lifting bridge.

Planners at Trafford town hall are concerned that without any guarantees over the bridge’s future, the huge proposed expansion in homes could have a severe effect on surrounding traffic.

As a result, they are recommending that the development only goes ahead once the disagreement has been resolved.

Speaking during Thursday’s meeting, resident James Crowley objected to the scheme saying it was an over development of the site – and also cited air pollution as a major concern.

“There is also a desperate need for affordable housing in the borough, which the application also fails to deliver on,” he added.

Meanwhile, agent Nick Lee said the site needed to move forward as soon as possible to avoid ‘ramifications’.

He argued further delays could result in Trafford council being ‘pressured’ to release some of its greenbelt land.

“Regarding the bridge, Peel did not delay its opening, the setbacks were simply because of health and safety checks,” he added.

“Salford council had agreed to adopt the bridge in 2012 – and is currently moving forward with this.”

Coun Daniel Bunting supported the application and said it needed to ‘get going’ because overall it is an acceptable plan.

Originally, Trafford council had been satisfied with the housing proposal, which also includes a care home and NHS services, when it was granted approval in 2016.

But last year a row between Peel and Salford council over the new adjacent £15m lifting bridge’s day-to-day funding resulted in a delay to its opening.

Although a compromise was eventually reached last Christmas – which saw it open just under a year ago – no final agreement on its future funding has since been reached.

The bridge is considered critical to the new A57 relief link from Trafford to Port Salford, and Trafford planning officers now believe caution should be exercised over the vast Trafford Waters development, which is also a Peel scheme.

“Officers were not aware of any circumstances that might have cast doubt on the bridge being completed, opened or dedicated as a public highway,” say planning documents of the original permission granted two-years-ago.

“However, following its completion, the applicant displayed a clear reticence to open the bridge to traffic until December 2017.

“Further doubt was also cast over its future availability and on-going maintenance.”

The report continues: “In the absence of guarantees officers have imposed a condition that no development shall take place until the highway, bridge and ancillary works have been implemented.

“They must be operational, have been adopted by the relevant public highway authority, with evidence in writing by the local planning authority.”

Delays to the opening of Irlam’s new lifting bridge – which was built by Peel – sparked traffic chaos this time last year, particularly through Irlam and Cadishead.

In the background, Peel had been arguing with Salford council over who should pay for the bridge’s operational costs.

Eventually, following a public outcry, the bridge opened and Peel, Salford council and Trafford council said ‘a way forward’ had been agreed.

However the disagreement, which has still not yet been formally resolved, has rattled Trafford council’s planning department.

The vast Trafford Waters development went back before planners as a result.

The approved scheme will feature nearly one million square feet of shop and office space, a 300 room hotel, a 150 bed care home, a health centre and a new primary school next to the Chill Factore.

The site, which will be built on disused land, will be linked to the Trafford Centre by bridge and will have close links to the new Metrolink stop at the shopping centre.

Peel says the development, which has been 15 years in the making, will cater for housing need in the area, and that the school and health and community facilities will make it sustainable.

Salford council has been approached for comment.