A DEVELOPER'S bid to build more than 100 homes on the site of a pet superstore in Timperley has been dealt a blow by planning officers.
Harlex wants to build 116 homes, including 52 affordable homes, on the former site of World of Pets and World of Water off Thorley Lane. It bought the site in 2018, and submitted an application to Trafford Council in September.
In October, The Messenger reported residents' concerns about the bid, such as the development of the green belt and the potential pressure on infrastructure like roads and schools.
And now planning officers have recommended the application for refusal before a critical meeting of the planning committee on March 10.
The officers' recommendation reads: "The proposed development would harm the openness of the green belt and would fail to safeguard against encroachment into the green belt.
"The applicant has failed to demonstrate that there are special circumstances which would outweigh the harm to the green belt by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm."
A number of years ago, an application to build around 20 homes on the site was refused for the same reason.
But this was before the approval of Places for Everyone, Greater Manchester's plan for growth in all of its boroughs apart from Stockport.
James Nicholson, the managing director of Harlex, argued the existence of Places for Everyone means that there are 'special circumstances'.
He pointed to a lack of homes and in particular affordable homes in Trafford, and said the developer's bid was the best option to address it.
Mr Nicholson said: "It's disappointing after more than two years of positive collaboration with Trafford Council, officers are recommending refusal based on concerns around harm to the green belt. Anybody who drives past the site can see we're proposing much-needed new homes on previously developed brownfield land.
"Councillors have already accepted the site is a suitable and sustainable location for new homes when they voted to approve Places for Everyone. All our application does is help to speed up delivery of 116 new homes, including the largest onsite contribution to affordable housing in recent years.
"At a time when the cost of living crisis is making home ownership increasingly unaffordable, councillors have an opportunity to show they're on the side of ordinary families looking for an affordable place to live.
"I look forward to asking the Planning and Development Management Committee to reconsider their officers’ advice."
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