Trafford college has withdrawn its planning application for 40 homes on its overflow car park and sports pitches – for now.
Local campaigners say they are ‘thrilled’ by the decision and hope to get the plans dropped for good.
But the college said it is working towards mitigating the impact of the development on sports facilities in the area and is in further discussions with Trafford council to find a solution.
The plan was to build 40 new homes on the site, but residents were worried it would make pollution and traffic in the area worse.
The Trafford College group submitted an application to Trafford council for outline planning permission for housing on Trafford College’s all-weather pitch and overflow car park, just off Stamford Brook Road in Timperley, back in July 2019.
Since then, more than 50 letters have been written to the council objecting to the plans.
The college said the pitch and car park haven’t been used ‘for some time’ and all relevant pollution and traffic assessments have found the development acceptable.
Residents are concerned that without the all-weather pitch, students would no longer have any outdoor sports space left on site.
In their objection letters, one resident said: “How can such a major college in Trafford dispose of their outside sports facilities and still offer sports courses, especially when students need this for their mental health more and more in these recent times.”
Another said: “The traffic in the vicinity is already very congested and local amenities including health and education are already overcrowded.”
Now the plans have been withdrawn, local resident Rob Duncan, who has been campaigning against the proposals, said: “We in the community are made up the college have seen sense and withdrawn their application. The college must now re-open their gates so students and communities can start to re-use the facilities again.
“The college must work with Sport England to upgrade their existing facilities and never choose to send in the bulldozers and re-house on alternative sites.
“We are so, so pleased. They should never allow it to get to such a stage again. Hopefully the new principle can really utilise this valued land.”
Michelle Leslie, vice principal, corporate services and planning at The Trafford College Group said: “The application has been withdrawn so that the college can continue to engage in further discussions with Trafford council, Sports England and national Sporting Bodies on how we can best support a sports mitigation package in Trafford.
“All technical matters have been resolved on the college’s application to demonstrate it is suitable and able to accommodate housing. Agreeing the replacement sports facilities is the only outstanding matter.
“The future resubmission will ensure the site can make an important contribution to delivering family and affordable homes in the borough and bring forward a substantial investment into new sports facilities in Trafford”.
