Manchester Council has lost a landmark legal battle over a decision to grant itself permission for a new car park right next to a primary school.
Plans to build a nearly-500-space car park right next to a school in Manchester were approved back in November 2019
The 10-acre site was purchased by the Council for £37million.It was formerly the site of the Ancoats Retail Park
Trees Not Cars, the community group who took the council to court over the originally decision said that it marks a major victory for a grassroots community group that has campaigned tirelessly for over 18 months to stop the plans which completely ignored the impact on air pollution in an attempt to force the plans through.
The judgement reflects the legitimate fears of over 12,000 people who signed Trees Not Cars’ petition against the car park plans.
Gemma Cameron says, “We have stopped the council from putting a car park next to a primary school. This is the first time we are aware of a community group beating the council in a legal challenge. It shows that organised community groups can take on Manchester City Council and win. It’s time for communities to fight back.”
The court found that the council failed to consider the impact of air quality on the local area around Ancoats and failed to consider the impact of building a polluting 440-space car park next to the only primary school in Manchester city centre.
It also said that it was unlawful in that the Council recommended planning approval based on the wrong information, the wrong air quality assessment, and traffic analysis.
Manchester City Council spokesperson said: “We are disappointed at this judgement and have sought leave to appeal.
“The reason we have contested this judicial review was not about its implications for the former Central Retail Park site but the precedent it would set and the potential impact of this decision on future applications if insufficient weight was given to the previous use of sites – in this case as the car park for a retail park.
“The judgement does not affect the future of this site. Since temporary planning permission was granted in 2019 it has not been used as a car park and it will not be before the planning permission expires in October this year.
“We remain focused on bringing forward the development of this key site as soon as possible. The creation of a net zero carbon business district, with public space at its heart and as little car use as possible, will support thousands of vital new jobs for Manchester people and play a powerful part in the city’s recovery from the economic impacts of the pandemic. It is a more appropriate use for this site, right next to the inner relief road, than a park.
“We do however recognise calls for more green space and the site will integrate with an improved Cotton Field Park, to the immediate north of the site. Work is also well underway to create Mayfield Park, a major new city centre park.”
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Manchester, Councillor Richard Kilpatrick said:
“Labour know they’ve got this completely wrong. Air quality in Manchester is dangerously high and there is a striking lack of green space in the city centre.
“But Manchester Council has insisted on wasting time, effort and millions of taxpayer’s money on their polluting pet project.
“Building another car park and inviting thousands of extra cars into the already polluted area is an utterly ignorant move from Labour. It has rightly frustrated local residents and parents whose children attend the nearby school.
