A controversial decision to sell a 74-space car park in Urmston and redevelop the site for six new homes has been approved, despite claims from opponents that local drivers have been “left stranded.” The sale of the land off Manor Avenue was agreed by the planning committee last night, paving the way for a trio of three-storey, three-bedroom houses with driveways and rear gardens.

The decision comes after strong opposition from members of the public, who argued that the loss of the car park would exacerbate parking problems in the area. Concerns were raised that residents and visitors would struggle to find spaces, particularly during peak times. However, councillors on the committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of the scheme, citing the pressing need for new housing in Trafford.

Councillor Waseem Hassan said: “This is an absolutely fantastic scheme and has a lot of economic and social benefits in the area, and we need more and more houses in Trafford anyway. So I fully support this application. Wonderful scheme.” His sentiments were echoed by Councillor Kevin Proctor, who added: “Generally I think this is a very, very good scheme. There’s no impact on amenity, it’s going to benefit a number of people in the area and it contributes to the housing supply which is something we want to achieve. The benefits are massive.”

Nevertheless, some committee members urged caution, acknowledging that parking pressures in the surrounding streets could not be ignored. One councillor said: “I think there are issues that we perhaps do need to look at regarding car parking around there.” The developer has not been required to provide additional off-street parking beyond the driveways for the new homes, leaving some residents worried that the burden will fall on already congested roads.

The six homes, which will all be three-storey and three-bed, have been designed to appeal to families, with private driveways and enclosed rear gardens included in the plans. The scheme is part of a wider push across Greater Manchester to make more efficient use of underused land and boost housing numbers.

For Oldham readers, the debate will sound familiar. Similar tensions between the need for new homes and the preservation of car parking spaces have surfaced in several parts of the borough, including on smaller housing infill projects. Oldham Council has also been looking at surplus car parks and other public land as potential development sites, and has faced its own opposition from residents worried about loss of parking and increased congestion.

The Trafford committee’s decision is reflective of a wider regional trend, where the demand for housing is often balanced against the needs of existing communities. While the benefits of new homes are widely acknowledged, the impact on local parking is a recurring concern that planners across the city-region are having to navigate.

Work on the Urmston development is expected to begin once the sale is completed, with the new homes anticipated to be ready for occupancy within the next two years. For now, the loss of the 74-space car park marks a significant change for the Manor Avenue area, but supporters of the scheme argue it is a necessary step towards meeting the area's housing needs.