Residents in Irlam say they are struggling to get off their own driveways because of traffic, with fears growing that plans for 154 new affordable homes will make congestion even worse. People living in the area have taken to social media to share their frustration at the volume of vehicles on local roads, warning that the proposed development off Fiddlers Lane could add further pressure to an already busy road network.
Plans for 154 new homes off Fiddlers Lane
Forshaw Land and Property Group has submitted a planning application to build 154 homes on a field off Fiddlers Lane, which is currently used for horse grazing. The proposals include 76 terraced houses and two apartment blocks containing a total of 78 flats. All of the properties would be classed as affordable housing and made available through Salford City Council's Salford Homes Search. Housing association ForHousing would manage the homes once completed.
If approved, the development would feature a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses, alongside one and two-bedroom flats. The plans also include a large public open space with native and ornamental trees, as well as parking, electric vehicle charging points and private gardens for the homes.
Residents describe daily struggles with congestion
However, residents have raised concerns about the potential impact on traffic, with some saying they already struggle to leave their homes because of congestion on nearby roads. One resident described being stuck in traffic on Liverpool Road for 20 minutes at 9.25am, despite believing the morning rush hour had passed. They wrote: "925 this morning and 154 more properties are getting added to this road. I've been sat in this 20 mins already. We’re supposedly out of peak hours. Deadline for objections is the 21st of October."
Others said drivers were already cutting through residential streets to avoid queues, with Addison Road among the roads residents claim are being affected. Jayne Hammond, who lives on Addison Road, said: "I live on Addison Road just getting off my driveway is a task, and I get looked at like im in the wrong." Another local added: "I am on Addison Road too, and you can NOT get off your drive in a morning... It's horrendous."
Concerns over safety, green belt and construction traffic
Residents fear the new estate could bring additional traffic through the neighbourhood, while others have questioned how construction vehicles would access the site during building work. There are also concerns about the safety of children who use Fiddlers Lane, with one resident highlighting that toddlers and young children travel along the road daily.
The proposed development has also attracted opposition over the loss of green belt land. The site is described in planning documents as a vacant plot, although residents have pointed out that it is currently used for grazing horses.
Developer and housing association respond
ForHousing has said the development would help meet local housing demand, with more than 6,000 people on Salford's housing waiting list. The housing provider said the new homes would provide "safe, secure and cost-effective living options" and "serve a vital need". The scheme would be part-funded through strategic grant funding from Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
In a planning statement, the developer said: "The proposal has been designed to achieve high quality, modern residential housing. The proposed development forms, height and appearance resonate with the local environment thereby integrating the proposed development into the surrounding context. Delivering a high quality 'place' which is sustainable, safe, and attractive." The developer also argued that the scheme should be considered acceptable despite the impact on the green belt, stating: "It has been demonstrated that the proposed development at the site should be acceptable, due to the development’s compliance with the Golden Rules, and the existence of very special circumstances in the form of affordable family housing which outweigh any harm to the Green Belt."
The application has already received objections from local residents, with traffic and the loss of green belt land among the issues raised. Some residents have also pointed out that congestion is a longstanding problem in the area, with vehicles coming off the nearby bypass contributing to delays. They fear that without improvements to the local road network, the additional homes could make existing problems worse. The application will be considered by Salford City Council as part of the planning process. Residents can view the proposals and submit comments through the council's planning portal.
