Approval for Greater Manchester’s tallest tower thrown out
Parts of Regent Retail Park could be bulldozed to make way for 3,300 new homes
Plans to build the tallest tower in Greater Manchester have suffered a major blow, after planning permission was thrown out due to a ‘conflict of interest’ at the council.
Henley Investment Managment received planning permission last November to bulldoze part of the Regent Retail Park to make way for 3,300 new homes. These would be built across ten towers, including one with 78 stories – making it Greater Manchester’s tallest building.
The controversial scheme was approved despite opposition from more than 460 residents, who fear overdevelopment and creaking local infrastructure. Objections also came from local MP Rebecca Long-Bailey and a number of current and former local councillors.
Now that approval has been thrown out, after a complaint from the Save Regent Retail Park Campaign group was upheld by the council’s legal department.
The complaint found there was a ‘procedural conflict of interest’ with the chair of the planning committee, coun Philip Cusack, who was a director of Salford Council’s social housing firm Derive at the time. Coun Cusack said he was unaware of any conflict of interest at the time.
Henley’s proposal included a pledge to build 660 social rent homes, which would need to be taken over by a social housing firm like Derive in future. The campaign group therefore felt there was ‘a potential interest for Derive receiving the development’s proposed social housing’.
Responding to the findings, Coun Cusack said: “At the time of the application being heard, I understood that there was no contractual relationship between Derive and the developer. In addition, I was informed by Council officers that the social or affordable housing element of the scheme would not be dealt with through the planning application but would be dealt with separately through the lease. For both of those reasons, I believed that I had no interest to declare.”
The planning application is still visible on Salford’s planning portal, but the decision notice for planning permission has been removed from the system.
A Salford City Council spokesperson confirmed that the planning application for development at Regent Retail Park remains under consideration, and has not been ‘withdrawn’. But the proposal will need to be reconsidered, and is expected to be brought back to the Planning and Transportation Regulatory Panel at a date to be determined.
A council spokesperson said: “It is necessary for a procedural matter to be addressed. The previous resolution to grant permission for development at Regent Retail Park was subject to conditions and completion of a legal agreement. It is not necessary for the application to be withdrawn; it will be reconsidered by the Planning Panel.”
A spokesperson for Henley added: “We are pressing ahead with our development to build over 3,000 new homes, around a quarter of which will be social rented accommodation, and supporting public amenities for the local community. We are committed to working with the Council to advance our plans through the appropriate procedures as we are advised.
“We are aware of the council’s internal procedural issue which is frustrating, but we have a close ongoing dialogue and they are keeping us updated.”
Local residents have pledged to continue fighting the proposal. Miranda Clarke, who is involved in the campaign, said: “The reversal of the decision shows the strength of our community when we stand together. We won’t accept development that takes from our area, adds no value, or ignores real concerns. As Henley returns, we’ll unite again to stand up for our community.”