Plans to build 685 homes on the former Brackley Golf Club course in Little Hulton have been approved. Councillors on Salford's planning and transportation regulatory panel gave the go-ahead to the application from housebuilders Countryside and Bellway, who will share the development.
The developers bought the site for £39.3 million last year with joint-owners Salford council receiving £18.5 million - the biggest single capital receipt in its history. Councillors were asked to give the green light to layout, appearance, landscaping and access to the 67-acre site, a small part of which is in Bolton council's territory.
The new development will include a range of one, two, three and four bedroom detached, semi-detached and terrace and mews properties as well as 16 apartments. Planning officer Jade Corcoran said that Countryside is proposing to deliver 138 private rented sector properties.
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Some 12 letters of objection to the development were received by the council, some of which addressed the loss of open space. However, a "biodiversity enhancement plan" has been submitted with the application which includes a wildlife pond, a total of 40 bird boxes to provide nesting habitat for multiple species.
There will also be 10 insect towers/boxes attached to retained mature trees close to green space and wildflower meadows and 20 bee bricks for "solitary bees". Bat boxes have already been installed as a condition of planning consent.
The approval also includes obligations on the developers to pay £1.88 million in an "education contribution" as well as £886,794 for pitch improvements at Amblecote Playing Fields and a new changing facility.
They must also commit £60,000 on improvements to local public rights of way and £40,000 towards upgrading pedestrian infrastructure to connect the site to bus stops on Captain Fold Road and the A6 Manchester Road West. A further £45,000 will be paid for bus stop improvements and £118,239 for improvements to the Manchester Road West pedestrian facilities. Some £177,358 will also be contributed towards traffic calming on Coniston Avenue.
The site was once the home of the former Brackley Colliery which was mined until 1968 before it was redeveloped as a golf course in 1991. However, the golf club closed in March 2016 and several buildings have been demolished after being damaged by fire and anti-social behaviour. A squatter was removed from a building in Bulloughs Farm, which is part of the development site, late last year.
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