Council defers decision on skyscraper plans

The tower would become the tallest building in Greater Manchester and the third highest in the UK

A decision on whether to approve plans to build one of the UK's tallest skyscrapers in Salford has been deferred.

Councillors earlier voted for the move in order to get more information regarding concerns around the £1bn project, which could see as many as 3,300 homes being built across 10 buildings at Regent Retail Park in Salford.

It would include a tower that could stand 895ft (273m) and up to 78 storey high - the biggest in Greater Manchester and one of the tallest in the country, behind the Shard and Horizon 22, both in London.

Some nearby residents and councillors have objected to the scheme, saying the area of Ordsall is already under pressure and would struggle to cope with thousands of new people.

One objector told Thursday's meeting it could currently take four weeks to see a GP in the local area of Ordsall.

"There was one resident we know who had a cough but she could not get an appointment for three weeks – she had to go to A&E for emergency treatment," they said.

They also said congestion was already a "major problem".

People have raised concerns about overdevelopment in the area

Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey said the scheme would create a "complete new town in the sky" which would "not be out of place in downtown Manhattan".

She said: "There were no new proposals for GPs, no new school places, and no new dentists in one of the most deprived areas in the city, an area already struggling."

Affordable housing was also a concern raised at the meeting, with planning reports showing creating affordable homes in the scheme was not viable.

However, the developer has offered the council 20% affordable housing through negotiations on the lease on the land.

Councillors told the meeting they needed more information on affordable housing options as well as the impact the development would have on parking and transport.

The deferral means the plans will come back to the planning committee at a later date.