Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: March 11, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Salford City Council - Record of Decision (Cabinet)   I Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council Constitution do hereby:   1)    Agree to adopt the Holcroft Moss Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), and delegates authority to agree the date on which the SPD takes effect to the Head of Planning in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development.   2)    Agree to provide Warrington Metropolitan Borough Council (as the responsible authority for implementing a mitigation strategy for Holcroft Moss) as necessary and through an appropriate mechanism, with Section 106 funds collected in accordance with the Holcroft Moss SPD.   3)    Delegate approval to the Executive Director of Place to make minor, non-material modifications to the Holcroft Moss Supplementary Planning Document before final publication, subject to consultation and agreement with the eight other Places for Everyone authorities.   The Reasons are: Through the Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) process in support of the Places for Everyone Plan (PfE) and also the recently adopted Warrington Local Plan, the Manchester Mosses Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and in particular Holcroft Moss, has been identified as being at risk of harm from increased air pollution. This is caused by the cumulative impact of traffic resulting from development in the Warrington Borough Council area and the PfE Plan area. To mitigate against this harm, there is a need for the delivery of long-term ecological resilience works, involving hydrological restoration measures to benefit Holcroft Moss.   The SPD sets out the approach to be taken in seeking developer contributions to mitigate adverse impact(s) on the protected habitats and species of Holcroft Moss. It supplements policy JP-C8 of PfE.   Options considered and rejected were: To not progress the SPD. This was rejected given that it would mean that guidance would not be provided to support the implementation of policy JP-C8 of PfE; this would lead to objections from Natural England who raised issues at the examination of PfE in relation to this matter. It would also be inconsistent with the approach taken by Warrington Borough Council.   Assessment of Risk: Low. The SPD supplements policy in the adopted PfE Joint Development Plan Document. Consultation took place on a draft of the SPD to give consultees the opportunity to comment on it. Key consultees (Natural England, Highways England and Warrington Borough Council) all submitted statements of support.     The source of funding is: Existing revenue budget associated with the process to adopt the SPD. Funding for works to restore Holcroft Moss will come via section 106 agreements related to applicable developments.   Legal Advice obtained: Yes. Supplied by: Fahid Malik, Senior Solicitor (Planning and Infrastructure) – Shared Legal Service Supplied: 24 January 2025   Comments: The Places for Everyone (“PfE”) Plan local authorities need to ensure that its SPDs and other policy documents are consistent with the PfE Joint Development Plan, which was adopted on 21 March 2024, to prevent the risk of any legal challenge.   The adoption of the Holcroft Moss SPD will allow the nine Greater Manchester local authorities to secure contributions in the form of planning obligations, pursuant to section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, from developers to ensure that Holcroft Moss is adequately mitigated and protected against the impacts of development.   Financial Advice obtained: Yes. Supplied by: Martin Anglesey, Accountant. Supplied: 20 January 2025   Comments: Financial implications will be minimal and relate to the cost of printing documents for the public which will be available at the Civic Centre / main libraries, and for a small number of postal letters to notify consultees of the adoption. It is anticipated that these costs will be below £100. Revenue budget exists in financial year 2024/25 on cost centre D4602.   Project innovate is not applicable due to the unique nature of the scheme.   Procurement Advice obtained: Not applicable.   HR Advice obtained: Not applicable.   Climate Change Advice obtained: Yes Holcroft Moss acts as a carbon sink; the SPD will secure contributions where necessary for mitigation works to it and so has positive climate change implications.    The following documents have been used to assist the decision process: ·         Holcroft Moss SPD and accompanying costs schedule ·         Holcroft Moss SPD accompanying costs schedule ·         Consultation Statement     Contact Officers:James Shuttleworth / Matt Doherty                                   Telephone numbers: 0161 793 2307 / 0161 793 2304   The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is the Growth and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee.                 Signed:                    Paul Dennett            Dated: 14.03.25                                                                             City Mayor   For Democratic Services use only   This decision was published on   14.03.25                                           This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 21.03.25                                                   unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.