Plans for 600 new homes have been approved for a brownfield site in Partington, despite fears of a lack of school places and poor public transport nearby.

The land at Heath Farm Lane, Partington used to be a gas works site and the application from developers was for full planning permission fo 148 homes and outline permission for another 452.

Trafford council’s planning committee approved both elements of the application from Heath Farm Lane LLP, National Grid Twenty Eight Limited and National Grid Property Holdings Limited last night.

Coun Aidan Williams, Labour councillor for Bucklow St Martins ward where the site is situated, supported the development for its nature as a brownfield site.

But he did make it clear that he ‘remained unhappy’ with the developer’s proposals for Rent to Buy properties rather than a social rent or social housing option.

As part of this application, the council would receive £1.6m in contributions through Community Infrastructure Levy and S106 payments from the developers – which the council plans will go towards the Carrington relief road.

Other councillors raised their concerns about a lack of primary school places both in Partington itself and in nearby Sale and Sale West.

Other fears raised included a lack of public transport infrastructure in the area and a lack of facilities including doctors surgeries.

Coun John Holden, Conservative representative for St Mary’s ward, said: “I agree with the concerns raised regarding school places and medical facilities. Sustainability, wonderful word, won’t be something that Partington will have if we keep loading these housing developments into it without consideration of additional school spaces.

“That said, the development is good in itself and I think we as a council need to be working on these capacity issues of our own bat, not waiting for the developers to do so.”

Council officers had recommended that the development be approved and following a vote, 10 councillors voted in favour of the application and two voted against.

By majority, the application was therefore approved.