Concern over school places in homes plans
Over 18,000 new properties to be built in borough
OVER 18,000 new homes are expected to be built across Trafford in the next 17 years.
But some people are worried about what it means for future generations. Trafford’s Conservative group is particularly concerned about school places in the borough.
With plans to build 86 new homes on the site of the former Sale Magistrates’ Court, 282 homes on the former Itron gas meter factory in Stretford, 30 new social homes in
Timperley, 333 flats on the former B&Q site in Stretford; new homes in the former high street bank in Urmston, 750 homes close to the town hall in Old Trafford and 6,000 homes pencilled in across Carrington and Timperley Wedge, Tory politicians are concerned about the influx of families - and where parents will send their kids.
Trafford’s draft local plan shows proposals for at least 18,547 new homes in the borough by 2037.
Coun Thomas Carey, Conservative shadow lead member for education at Trafford council, is concerned about the situation in Sale.
He said: “Conservatives welcome the regeneration of town centres and other brownfield sites to provide much needed homes and we welcome the fact that a proportion of the new homes in the pipeline will be sold on an affordable basis.
“What we, and no doubt families wanting to move into the area are concerned about however is that due to the popularity of Trafford schools, demand on school places is already exceptionally high and capacity in school places in not catching up with demand.
“We have serious worries over school places for pupils both in the primary and secondary across the borough.”
Coun Andrew Western, Trafford’s Labour council leader, said: “The council has a statutory responsibility to meet demand for school places and will continue to plan to meet that need in the years ahead.”
According to government school census data, there is currently a surplus of 208 vacant primary school sectors places overall across Trafford, with all areas (including Sale) having more places available than they need; except for Stretford which needs 217 places.
For Trafford’s secondary schools, there are currently 970 vacant places across the borough, with all areas having more spaces than are currently needed, except for Altrincham which needs 280 places.