The return of new terraced housing in Greater Manchester borough

Councillors have hailed the return of terraced housing while approving a development of 147 homes in Old Trafford. The homes will be built on seven acres of land off Bold Street, which has been vacant for 12 years since three residential tower blocks and a pub were demolished after Trafford’s planning committee approved the scheme.

Homes for Trafford – a joint venture between social housing provider L&Q and the council – was the applicant and will provide nearly £1m towards secondary education places in the area. Some 50 per cent or 73 of the homes will be affordable. Sixteen will be for social rent and 57 will be available for intermediate shared ownership or rent-to-buy.

Plans also include a residential parking permit scheme as most of the car parking would be on-street and within courtyards. Cycle storage facilities are also part of the plan. Active travel routes will be created through the site, including the provision of a ‘Green Mews’ incorporating a local play area, a ‘Church View Gardens’ and a ‘Spire Walk’, with a car-free landscape route between Merlin’s Park and Bold Street Sports Ground.

Councillors unanimously backed the plans, although Coun Simon Thomas had reservations over the possibility of ‘parking overspill’ in the area. “It’s a lovely design,” he said. “But I am concerned about parking overspill from the site. I won’t be voting against it, but I am just offering a word of caution.

“There are 147 homes, with two, three and four bedrooms. There are only 145 parking spaces. Most homes nowadays have two or three cars per household, so that’s a concern.”

Chairman of the committee Coun Barry Winstanley said that a traffic regulation order (TRO) would be put in place to ensure that the ‘best parking and highways solutions are found’. He went on: “I am very positive towards this scheme and the fact that it is restoring the urban grain. Terraced houses are an underrated use of land.”

Coun Winstanley also dismissed fears raised that noise from the adjacent Loreto College plant may disturb new residents of the development. “In terms of the noise, people will be aware of what they are moving into,” he said.

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