To consider a report provides an overview of the current progress with development and supporting Infrastructure around Carrington and Partington – known as ‘New Carrington’. It also explains, principally, the necessity of transport improvements to the future growth in the area – and how this inter-dependency will be managed.

(1)     That the approach to Master Planning for New Carrington be noted.

(2)     That the Transport Strategy for Carrington set out at Appendix 1 to the report be endorsed.

(3)     That the resolution in September 2021 to progress the planning application for the Carrington Relief Road be noted and that authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to carry out all necessary steps to secure funding for the route and, in consultation with the Director of Legal & Governance, to conclude any appropriate agreements in principle for securing the land necessary for the route and its related infrastructure.

(4)     That the planning strategy set out in Section 8 of the report be endorsed and the Planning & Development Committee be invited to consider and approve a detailed formula for interim infrastructure contributions.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration & the Executive Member for Climate Change presented a report which provides an overview of the current progress with development and supporting Infrastructure around Carrington and Partington – known as ‘New Carrington’. It also explains, principally, the necessity of transport improvements to the future growth in the area – and how this inter-dependency will be managed.

The Places for Everyone Plan (PfE) provides the context for future homes and employment development in this locality – an area currently constrained by poor accessibility and limited transport infrastructure. Master planning required by PfE is now underway and will help provide a detailed framework for future development and the transport, physical, green and social infrastructure needed to underpin it.

Alongside this a transport strategy for the area has been prepared and this will help guide the detailed design of measures such as the Carrington Relief Road – the main highway and active travel artery for the area.

This report sets out the current programme and costings for this route – and options for future funding. As a major brownfield site, the former Carrington refinery is subject to contamination which complicates both development and the provision of future infrastructure.

Finally given ongoing constraints on the Highway Network, the report considers how planning applications for new development should be managed in the short term, pending implementation of planned transport improvements.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration summarised the background to the Plan as referred to in paragraph 1 to the report. As well as highlighting the Places for Everyone Plan which includes future homes and employment development in the Carrington and Partington locality, the Carrington Relief Road was highlighted as an integral part of the Plan to support the housing and employment growth. Members attention was drawn to The  Carrington Transport Strategy where the overall goal is to develop a new sustainable community in the Carrington area (Carrington, Partington and Sale West), with high levels of internal walking and cycling connectivity, provision of internal facilities and good public transport connections, including to the wider Greater Manchester network. The Carrington Relief Road Programme and Funding is set out in Paragraph 6 to the report.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration underlined the following conclusions in the report –

(i)             New Carrington will be the main growth point in Trafford for the next decade or more; as a consequence it will require ongoing effort to ensure development is coordinated with necessary infrastructure – and that there is effective place-making to bequeath successful communities to future generations.

(ii)   The first step is to ensure the timely delivery of the Carrington Relief Road, as this will underpin key developments and facilitate other transport improvements. The new route sits on the context of a wider Transport Strategy for Carrington & Partington – an approach fully aligned with the rapidly evolving Greater Manchester Bee Network. Every effort must now be made to secure the detailed design of the route and the funding for its delivery. Joint working with the GMCA, TFGM and other partners will be essential to secure this outcome.

(iii)     The Road will only be delivered with the aid of proportionate developer contributions. However such contributions will only be forthcoming if planning applications for development are approved. If all development is delayed because of the lack of infrastructure, then this of itself may undermine the funding of the road. In order to break this potentially negative cycle, it is proposed that a planning strategy be employed that enables some development to proceed, especially where appropriate infrastructure contributions are made.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration thanked the officers for their work in producing a very complex and ambitious report and marks an important milestone in the project.

Councillor Ennis referred to the ever increasing costs of the project and took the view that there may be a need to revisit the viability of the Project. The Member further questioned how a temporary 106 Agreement allow a developer to budget properly when costs are constantly changing. The Member also made reference to the fact that the hydrology for Timperly Wedge is totally unknown and the flooding at Timperley Wedge affects many parts of South Trafford and the flooding transfers to Carrington. The Member asked when will the hydrology reports be available for the New Carrington Project.

The Leader informed the Councillor Ennis that from a Greater Manchester prespective we will be working with the Environment Agency and United Utilities around the Integrated Water Course Management Plan which looks at new developments and the impacts of developments when water is drained. He would get back to Councillor Ennis regarding the hydrology reports.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration that the new viability work is most welcome and we the most confident as we have ever been about the actual costs involved. Previously this work did not take into account our ambitions in terms of the breadth of the highway for active travel etc so a lot of the costs has gone into that aspect. The design of this has moved forward and that has gone into the viability. New Carrington in a GM capacity will be one of GM’s six Growth Zones so to command a five per cent budget of a transport allocation which has not been allocated yet but will be a significant amount. Paragraph 8 of the report highlights a potted history of Section 106 Agreement contributions that has been secured previously. So the report provides developers with some certainty about contributions and we will do this in discussion with landowners and the Council’s Planning Committee. The issue is not flooding but contamination and this is clearly set out in the report.

Councillor Welton applauds the reports commitment to the twenty minute neighbourhood model in Carrington itself but the reports highlights the car dependency and even with the raft of measures proposed in his view barely moves the dial. It may well be that moving further to include a tram link connection and this may well be the fate unless the a reach for Scenario 3 – Most Sustainable, GM Policy objectives fully achieved. Re paragraph 1.1 of the report, he notes the issue of induced demand is acknowledged so the New Carrington project will put more pressure on the existing roads across Trafford. Why is there no analysis of achieving the costs in Scenario 3 so not achieving this Scenario will cost us more in terms of carbon emissions, public health outcomes regarding obesity, increased rates of collisions, costs of congestion and higher costs of road maintenance, all these costs should be considered against the costs of infrastructure when planning for the very long term. There is no mention of demand regarding bus traffic should have a place in the Plan.

As far as he is aware Carrington Green Line is still officially a live train line, so what is the likely approval for its conversion as a walking and cycling route as is indicated by the Plan.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration responded saying that the report is open and honest and we are not trying to achieve the ultimate goal in sustainability. It’s a realistic and ambitious project, it does not rule out the possibility of improving the offer in front of Members, this is a project that will come out over decades and over time there will be great advances in transport. Regarding the demand on the bus network this will be based on the Bee transport. Planning decisions are a balance between economic social and environmental and this a fair and realistic appraisal of where we are. Regarding the Carrington Green line route this is something that needs investigating.

Adrian Fisher, Director of Growth and Regulatory Services, if Carrington Green Line is a live railway it is owned by Network Rail. It is very heavily overgrown. There are examples elsewhere where they have been converted to a walking cycle route that is something which we wish to develop. In terms of Scenario 3 that is the most sustainable option but it is about moulding something which is realistic with the resources that are available so the infrastructure design is built around the funding world we are in. Therefore Scenario 2 is the best and most sustainable and reasonably achievable within the available resources and that’s where the balance lies.

Councillor Williams, Executive Member for Climate Change, emphasised that we are at the start of gaining full public control of our buses back and we need to wait and see over the coming months and years what new bus services so he can take away a discussion on demand responsive bus servicing at the Greater Manchester level he would be happy to do so and get back to him.

Councillor Ennis referred to the disused Carrington railway and informed Members that has not been a previously popular suggestion to bring it back into use but as far as he is aware active travel money has been allocated there and parties and parish councils are keen to bring it back in a more active travel way and does the Executive support that approach and might that be rolled into the report presented.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration advised that the active travel approach regarding reopening the Carrington Green Line will be investigated and reported back.

Councillor Holden referred to the mention in the report about new primary schools and thousands of houses but only one mention of a secondary school in the Partington area. Many of the residents are forced to send their children to the School in Cil west because of lack of space. Has any consideration been given to those standards when Broadoak fills up.

Councillor Duncan informed Members that the residents he represents are feeling frustrated and angry that the Council are neglecting their wishes and to consider environmental devastation. So the question is in relation to the deep peat deposits on Carrington Moss the report states in paragraph 7.7 ‘As a consequence, peat is not considered to be a significant constraint on future infrastructure provision.’ This shows a huge lack of understanding on the impact of drainage on the main body of peat which covers around 335 hectares. Trafford Councils seems willingly to disregard Natural England’s guidance.

Councillor Paul spoke for Manor Ward and drew attention to residents concerns about the xxx Allotments and she shares their concerns. This allotments is opposed by the majority of residents. Can the report into the investigation of peat be made available.

The Executive Member for Children and Young People advised that one of the requests for approval is the expansion of Broad Oak school. So we are hoping that it will go from four form entry to six form entry and we will be requesting nearly £2 million in 106 Agreement money to fund that school.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration advised that on the question of peat this report covers it. The peat question draws into a wider discussion on the New Carrington allocation. The public examination dedicated  two full days and all the documentation and survey results were made public through that process. The Inprint of this entire area is full of deep peat is incorrect and the discussion about opposition to this piece of work is not reflected in the response we have received form the consultation. People want new roads and houses and they are happy for that to progress. With regard to the Masterplan we are engaging with landowners and statutory bodies and we are undertaking a series of detailed environmetal surveys on the land and the nature and extent of peat deposits will be known before any development takes place.

RESOLVED: That

(1)    the approach to Master Planning for New Carrington be noted.

(2)    the Transport Strategy for Carrington set out at Appendix 1 to the report be endorsed.

(3)    the resolution in September 2021 to progress the planning application for the Carrington Relief Road be noted and that authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to carry out all necessary steps to secure funding for the route and, in consultation with the Director of Legal & Governance, to conclude any appropriate agreements in principle for securing the land necessary for the route and its related infrastructure.

(4)    the planning strategy set out in Section 8 of the report be endorsed and the Planning & Development Committee be invited to consider and approve a detailed formula for interim infrastructure contributions.