Trafford Councillors Approve 155-Home New Carrington Plan Amid Flooding and Traffic Concerns
Trafford's planning committee has moved a controversial 155-home development in New Carrington one step closer to reality, despite several elected members expressing fears they were "jumping the gun" by granting approval before receiving final clearance from the Environment Agency.
The scheme, proposed by developer Redrow Homes for farmland off Warburton Lane, received conditional approval during a tense committee debate where councillors found themselves torn between supporting much-needed housing and addressing serious environmental and infrastructure concerns.
Environment Agency Objections Remain Unresolved
One of the most significant concerns raised during the debate centred on the Environment Agency's ongoing review of flood risk assessments for the site. The organisation had not yet completed its final checks, leaving councillors in the unusual position of making a decision before receiving crucial environmental clearance.
Coun Meena Minnis voiced strong reservations about this approach, stating: "I don't like the fact that we are preempting something. The Environment Agency is objecting [...] Alarm bells are ringing, why are we jumping the gun? Normally we would have the reports back and we would have dealt with all the concerns of other parties like Highways and the Environment Agency."
She added particular concern about increasing flood risks, warning: "It will flood. We've seen that flooding is increasing."
Traffic Impact and Financial Contributions Spark Debate
Highways officials had warned that the development would "worsen already severe impacts" at key junctions including Banky Lane and Manchester Road/Moss Lane, potentially increasing collision risks and creating unreliable public transport in the area.
Planning officers acknowledged there would be a period of increased congestion but argued that mitigation measures formed part of the wider New Carrington development plan. Redrow had agreed to contribute £6.3 million toward these infrastructure improvements.
However, Councillor Phil Eckersley expressed discomfort with the proposed schedule for financial contributions, which were tied to stages of occupation. He argued for earlier payment, stating the authority was not "guaranteed" to receive the money otherwise.
Supporters Highlight Housing Need and Design Quality
Despite these concerns, other committee members spoke in favour of the development. Councillor Shirley Proctor praised the design quality, saying: "There's homes there that I would happily move into. I'm going to be voting for this application because I think, on balance, it's a good plan." She added that she did not believe there was a significant flood risk due to the site's design.
Councillor Hassan emphasised the pressing need for new housing, stating simply: "We need more development. We need more houses."
Conditional Approval Granted After Motion to Defer Fails
The committee ultimately voted down a motion to delay the decision until all concerns could be addressed. Instead, they granted officers power to approve the scheme subject to one crucial condition: the Environment Agency must withdraw its objection after completing final checks.
Should the Environment Agency maintain its objection, the application will return to the committee for a final judgement. This represents a compromise position that allows the process to move forward while maintaining environmental safeguards.
The approved scheme forms part of a larger development vision for New Carrington, which includes substantial areas of Sale West and central and east Partington. As part of Greater Manchester's development plan extending to 2039, the wider New Carrington project will ultimately deliver approximately 5,000 new homes in the region.
This particular application represents one of two proposals submitted by Redrow Homes last year for fields between Partington and Warburton village. Together, these proposals would create 558 new homes off Warburton Lane, marking a significant step in the area's transformation.
