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Blueprint of change

Conrad Astley
28/ 1/2003

JOBS, housing and a new home for Salford City Reds are all on the cards under a new planning blueprint drawn up for the city.

Town hall planning chiefs have been working on the new unitary development plan (UDP), which will shape the city for the next decade.

Although a draft has been given the thumbs-up by councillors, it is now set to be put to the people of Salford, before a government inspector looks at it in a public inquiry.

The six-week inquiry will start on February 17, during which Salfordians will be able to view the plan on-line, at libraries and in the Swinton Civic Centre.

The UDP, which will probably be adopted in 2006, will govern every development to be built in the city for years, from factories and housing estates to leisure complexes.

Areas of the inner city have been set aside for housing and job creation, while a stretch of land along side the River Irwell has also been earmarked for development, connecting the regeneration of Salford Quays and Chapel Street.

A piece of land behind Salford University has been pencilled in for a high-tech business park, encouraging graduates to stay in the city and develop their skills.

There is good news for employment elsewhere in the city, with land at the former Weaste quarry, the former Agecroft colliery, and in Irlam and Cadishead, all marked for job creation sites.

Salford City Reds' proposed new stadium in Barton has also been earmarked, while far-reaching plans for new roads, and even new Metrolink lines - one stretching from Eccles to Bolton, via Little Hulton - are mentioned.

Large areas of open land stretching from Worsley to Irlam remain as greenfield sites, not set aside for any development. And there is no mention of Peel Holdings' proposals for a racecourse near Boothstown.

However, the UDP does refer to government plans to turn a stretch of land following the Bridgewater Canal from Worsley to Castlefield into a World Heritage site.

Planning officer Chris Findley told us: "We are trying to create as much of an attractive environment as possible and an area where people will want to live. There will be a lot of changes over the next 10-15 years."

Development Services boss Cllr Barry Warner added: "Our work on the unitary development plan has now reached a critical stage. Although a lot of work has been done by the city council, it is really just the beginning, because now we are going to prepare for local residents to get involved and give their views.

"It is a blueprint for the Salford of the future and it's one that we want the people of Salford to help us prepare."