Plans to build social housing at a rugby clubhouse site have been approved.
The Salford City Roosters Rugby League Clubhouse off Hallsworth Road in Peel Green will be demolished to make way for 18 houses and 30 apartments.
It comes as the grassroots junior rugby club is set to relocate to another site.
READ MORE: 'Strong resentment' for social housing plans at grassroots rugby clubhouse site
An application to knock down the current clubhouse and build the 100 pc affordable development was approved by Salford council's planning panel.
Speaking at a panel meeting on Thursday (July 29), planning chair Ray Mashiter praised the design of the residential development by ForViva.
He said: "It's one of the best ForViva sites I've seen come forward to the city.
"It's using good materials and it's producing a good mix of housing to meet different needs."
The new estate will feature a mix of 30 one and two-bedroom apartments as well as four two-bedroom bungalows and 14 two and three bedroom houses.
The site, formerly the Moat Hall Sports Centre, is located near the M60.
A new clubhouse for Salford City Roosters with improved facilities is currently in the process of being developed on land which is nearer the rugby pitches.
Salford council officers told the panel that construction work would not commence on the housing development until the new clubhouse is complete.
A total of 17 letters of objection were received by the local authority with a list of concerns covering layout, traffic, parking, biodiversity and social cohesion.
But Labour councillor Mike McCusker, who is the lead member for planning and sustainable development at Salford council, was satisfied with the plans.
He said: "I really like the design and the layout of the site.
"I think all the traffic elements that residents were concerned about, their concerns seem to be met in the way that traffic is going to be managed."
The application was unanimously approved by Salford council's planning panel.
However, the panel asked the housing developer to undertake a desk-based survey of the site to investigate whether it has any archaeological importance.
It comes after Weaste and Seedley councillor Philip Cusack questioned whether part of the plot of land had once been occupied by Barton Old Hall.
Council officers said an archaeological investigation was not undertaken.
Coun Mashiter said: "That's quite disappointing. We have a commitment as a city and as a planning authority with [Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit] that a site that might have some historical significance that we always do consult with them and do communicate with them."
A spokesperson for ForViva told the panel that the housing association was willing to work on the council to complete a desk-based survey of the site.
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