Plans for 24 affordable apartments on social club site

Plans for two blocks totalling 24 affordable apartments where Urmston Social Club once stood are set to go before councillors in Trafford. Irwell Valley Homes’ scheme is recommended for approval by the borough’s planning officers and will be discussed by its planning and development management committee on Thursday (February 15).

This is despite 13 objections from nearby residents near to the brownfield site at Old Crofts Bank in Davyhulme, who say the design of the building is ‘of poor architectural quality and out of keeping with the surrounding area’. They also say that the height of the blocks - three storeys and linked at the ground floor - is too much and that two storeys would be enough.

Objectors also say that the 30 proposed parking spaces in the plans are insufficient and there would be increased traffic on a ‘narrow, yet busy road’. A similar application for the site was turned down in 2021 but was refused on the grounds of residential amenity and the lack of affordable housing.

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It was ultimately determined at appeal in which the planning inspector concluded that the impact on residential amenity was acceptable, but the lack of affordable housing alone justified dismissing the appeal. A report to the committee says: “During the consideration of this application, amendments have been negotiated by officers.

"These relate to the provision of external terraces, additional landscaping and greater communal space. Officers consider that the development is appropriately designed in its context. It would create acceptable living conditions for the occupants of the homes and car parking arrangements are satisfactory.

“Substantial weight is attached