Barton Road, Trafford
Type of development
Residential
Partners
Eccleston Homes
Location
Urmston
Year
2023
Eden partnered with Eccleston Homes to submit a comprehensive planning application for a new residential development on a previously developed site off Barton Road, Urmston. The site, which partially serves as open space and a designated wildlife corridor, also includes non-designated heritage assets and several dilapidated structures. Additionally, parts of the site are located in flood zone 3 and show signs of contamination from past activities.
Following a previous scheme that was refused due to design and appearance issues, and a subsequent appeal that was dismissed, Eden devised a robust strategy to address these concerns. Through close collaboration with planning officers ahead of submission, we worked to secure broad support for the revised proposals.
In 2023, we held positive and proactive discussions with key stakeholders, including input from Calderpeel architects and landscape architects Levitt Bernstein. Together, we developed a high-quality design proposal that effectively resolves the earlier design objections. The supporting materials clearly demonstrate how the new development aligns with Trafford’s Design Guide, and feedback from the planning officers has been encouraging.
The proposed development includes 57 new homes, offering a mix of 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom properties, with 25% designated as affordable housing. The scheme is landscape-led, featuring a pocket park, a central ‘green spine’ for pedestrian access, and a ‘woodland edge’ to the north. The design carefully balances ecological considerations, open space, flood risk, heritage preservation, and contamination remediation.
The planning application was approved in 2024. Design quality, accessibility, sustainability, social inclusion and landscape were at the heart of the scheme which was described as ‘ground breaking, impressive and fantastic’ by members at committee