A PLAN to build more than 100 homes on the site of a pet superstore in Timperley is causing consternation among residents in the surrounding area.

Developer Harlex is planning to build 116 homes, including apartments and houses, on the site of World of Pets and World of Water off Thorley Lane.

It bought the site in 2018, and submitted a planning application to Trafford Council on September 20 this year.

But days into the consultation on the planning application, which is running for three weeks starting October 4, residents' consternation is clear to see.

At the time of writing, almost 20 of them have commented on the consultation, expressing concern at the development of the green belt on which the site stands, as well as the potential pressure on infrastructure like roads and schools.

One resident said: "This plan, if approved, will change the local area, destroying the green belt, making the congested traffic and the related noise and pollution much worse, and putting further strain on the public service provisions."

They added it would be 'shocking' if the plan was approved, while another resident said it would be a 'disaster'.

Some four years ago, a planning application to build around 20 homes on the site was refused on the grounds that there were no special circumstances to outweigh the development of the green belt.

However, this was before the approval of Places for Everyone, Greater Manchester's controversial plan for growth in all boroughs other than Stockport.

Trafford Council approved its part of the plan in summer, despite opposition, and Harlex is arguing that this means the special circumstances now exist.

In its planning application, it said the site does not contribute to the green belt at the moment, given almost half of it is where World of Pets and World of Water once stood, and is now a brownfield site.

Harlex also said some loss of green belt is needed to solve the problem of housing supply, and affordable housing supply in particular, which it hopes to address by making 52 (45 per cent) of the 116 homes affordable.

Even if Trafford Council approves the planning application, details such as the appearance and scale of the 116 homes will still need separate approval. A decision is due before the end of the year.