Developers fight to get rejection of plans for 88 flats in Stretford overturned

Developers are fighting to get the rejection of their plans to build a block of 88 flats in Trafford overturned.

Jumani Holdings submitted plans for a 13-storey building on the former MKM House site off Warwick Road in Stretford in August 2020.

Trafford council’s planning committee rejected the proposals in May 2021, despite this going against the authority’s own officers’ recommendations to approve them.

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At the time, committee members cited the height and scale of the building, along with a lack of parking spaces and the 10pc level of affordable housing on site (which they believed should be higher) as reasons for their refusal.

Only two councillors on the committee voted in favour of the plans that night.

Plans for the new homes on Warwick Road from developers Jumani Holdings, working with Avison Young and 5plus Architects, had been expected to be approved.

Previous, similar applications for the site by different developers included a 13-storey hotel, a 12-storey 70 apartment block and, most recently in 2016, a 12-storey block of 89 flats in 2016 – which gained approval from the council but was never completed due to viability issues.

Now, Jumani Holdings have lodged an appeal against the council’s most recent decision.

It is understood the developers believe the refusal was not justified and planning permission should instead be granted – particularly considering a similar scheme on the site previously lodged by other developers in 2016 was approved.

The planning inspectorate will consider the appeal, taking into account representations from the council and the developers, before deciding whether to grant it or dismiss it by going