'It's packed every day, we can't lose it to a massive tower'
Residents, councillors and an MP in Salford have called for plans to build one of the UK’s tallest towers over a retail park to be rejected.
Henley Investment Management (HIM) has earmarked Regent Retail Park for a £1bn regeneration scheme that would create 3,300 new homes spread across ten new tower blocks, the tallest up to 273m in height.
But the scheme has faced a backlash from the community, with thousands signing petitions against the proposals with concerns about losing local shops. Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey said the change would cause “clear detriment” to the community.
Speaking at a public meeting at St Clements Church Hall on January 25, she criticised the scheme over a lack of affordable housing and potential to add to “the street parking nightmare” that local residents face.
“We need more amenities and social infrastructure – instead it will demolish a busy retail park which plays a vital role in the local economy, offering employment to a significant number of people and providing essential services to the community," she said.
“Sadly it is clear that this development as it stands is not what the local area desperately needs and I am right behind local residents and councillors in objecting to it."
Ordsall councillor Brendan Keville has also criticised the plans. He said the retail park is “packed every day serving tens of thousands of shoppers” and that “10 years of construction” would cause major disruption to residents.
For its part, the developer said all existing retail tenants at the site have been invited back to the new development, and that affordable housing will be part of the scheme.
While the proposal is in its early stages, it fits into Salford council’s local development plan for the