Controversial plans to build one of the country’s tallest skyscrapers in Salford have been dealt a significant blow after a planning approval process was judged to have been affected by a conflict of interest.
Henley Investment Management (HIM) secured approval last November to demolish part of Regent Retail Park to make way for 3,300 homes across 10 towers.
The £1bn development would see a 78-storey skyscraper built on the site of the Ordsall shopping district, making it the tallest building in Greater Manchester.
HIM’s large-scale plans were approved despite backlash from protesters from the Save Regent Retail Park Campaign Group, who secured 1,971 online signatures opposing the development.
The proposals also faced objections from local MP Rebecca Long-Bailey and a host of current and former councillors.
Despite opposition from their council colleagues and campaigners who gathered outside Salford Civic Centre holding placards, seven of the 10 committee members voted in favour of HIM’s plans, while three voted against.
It was a resounding victory for the behemoth developer, which had argued it would be unwise to reject plans for 660 affordable homes, a community centre, a public park and space for healthcare facilities in the midst of a national housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Ordsall-based campaigners raised concerns about the strain on existing infrastructure, the loss of shops and overdevelopment.
And campaigners from the Save Regent Retail Park group are welcoming the opportunity to have their case heard again after Salford Council’s legal department upheld a complaint they made.
The complaint found there was a “procedural conflict of interest” with the then chair of the planning committee, Coun Philip Cusack, who was a director of Salford Council’s social housing firm, Derive, at the time.
A Salford City Council spokesperson has since confirmed that the planning application for development at Regent Retail Park remains under consideration, is not “withdrawn” or “refused” and is expected to be brought back to the Planning and Transportation Regulatory Panel at a date to be determined.
The 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 It is not necessary for the application to be withdrawn; it will be reconsidered by the Planning Panel.”
As HIM’s proposals promised to provide homes for social rent, the campaign group successfully argued that this created the potential for future involvement by Derive and therefore represented a possible conflict of interest.
“At the time of the planning application being considered, I believed that there was no contractual relationship between Derive and the developer,” Coun Cusack said in response to the findings.
“I was also informed by officers of the Council that the social housing element of the scheme was not a matter to be dealt with through the planning process and one that would be dealt with separately through the lease.
“I therefore concluded that I didn’t have any interest to declare.”
Coun Cusack added that in previous meetings he has consistently declared an interest and left the room at the mention of Derive in planning applications.
A spokesperson for HIM said: “We have not withdrawn our planning application and 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.”
While HIM intends to put its plans to the committee again, Ordsall Councillor Ben Grogan – who stepped down from the planning committee after questions surrounding his impartiality were brought to the council by the developer – said the conflict of interest verdict was a “win” for campaigners.
He told Salford Now: “Everyone in the campaign group is treating this as a win for now. It gives us another chance to put Henley’s viability shortcomings back in front of the public at planning committee.
“We know that the planning system is weighted in favour of developers, but even if they get approval again, the campaign will continue putting pressure on.
“The fact that no progress on the social housing provision or freehold agreement has been made since last November says everything about the state of this development.”
Mike Scantlebury, one of the campaigners and an Ordsall resident, said if “I were to predict the future, I’d say there’s going to be problems,” when HIM were granted planning approval nine months ago.
While it remains to be seen whether the setback will be a bump in the road or a more serious hurdle, Mr Scantlebury was in a celebratory mood about the decision.
“I was amazed to hear that Henley have been knocked back in their madcap plans to build ten high-rise blocks of flats on the site of the Regent Road Retail Park,” said the campaigner.
