Planning Inspectors at Salford City Council have rejected an appeal from developers Sky Properties after refusing the company planning permission to build an ‘eco park’, comprised of a materials recycling facility (MRF), an anaerobic digester and a gasification plant, on its Green Lane site in 2011.

The planning inspectors rejected the appeal on the basis that the proposed facility, which could process 100,000 tonnes of rubbish a year and generate electricity, ‘was not appropriate’ and would erode public confidence in the planning framework.

Local residents were so concerned with the potential health hazards of the site they regarded as little more than an incinerator, that they organised a campaign against the facility and hired a barrister to represent them at the appeal hearing.

Councillor Derek Antrobus, Assistant Mayor for Strategic Planning at Salford City Council, said: "This particular development was incredibly unpopular among the local community and the planning inspector took this strength of feeling into consideration when making his decision on whether to uphold the city council's planning decision.

"There is a need for developments like this but it is essential we consider residents' views when looking at where they should be located. In this particular case the site was not appropriate and we are pleased that the planning inspector has upheld the planning panel's decision. However we will now work with the owners of the site to try to help them to find a suitable development opportunity that will support the planning framework for the area."

The decision to reject the appeal was met with relief from local businesses, councillors and MPs, with Councillor Lisa Stone, Assistant Mayor for Communications and Engagement at Salford City Council, saying the decision is "really a credit to the local community and campaign group who pulled together to oppose these schemes over the last couple of years.

"What has struck me throughout their campaign is the way local community has worked with their councillors, MPs, the City Mayor and the council, with a shared vision for the future of their community and area. They put a lot of hard work into this and have been delighted with the outcome."

Hani El-Qasem, Chairman of the Say No to the Green Lane Incinerator campaign also welcomed the inspectorate’s decision writing: ‘After what seems an eternity, this campaign has finally come to a conclusion… the area has now cast off it’s [sic] heavy industrial roots to become a modern, bustling and thriving residential community. A plant such as this would very much be “out of keeping” for the area which will now see a future of mixed residential and tourist developments…

‘We now need to turn a time of conflict to a time of collaboration. The campaign doesn’t stop here. We need to work with Sky and the Council to bring a development to the site that works for everyone. The site can’t stay vacant, it needs to fit into the overall strategy for the area.’

A statement released by Sky Properties Ltd has said that though the company ‘is obviously disappointed’ by the decision, it will now be ‘considering alternative uses for the Green Lane Site which reflect the hopes and aspirations of the local residents’.

Further information on the proposed facility can be found on the Green Lane Eco Park website.