Residents have hit out at plans to build a new housing development on their doorstep.
Anwyl Homes have submitted proposals to build 65 homes on a field off Wilbraham Road. The developer is seeking to redevelop the 2.2-hectare site, which is owned by the Greater Manchester Youth Foundation (GMYF) and sits next to Maine Road FC's Brantingham Road ground, into a residential development
However, nearby residents have slammed the plans, claiming the build would result in many negative impacts on the community, such as overdevelopment, lack of green space, pollution and noise impacts, and flooding concerns.
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Anywl produced a planning statement which showed 81% of 31 people who filled in feedback forms were not supportive of the proposals, and since then locals have hit out to say the responses are 'insufficient' to their concerns.
Najeeb Ahmad, who has lived on Morville Road for nine years, said: "There will be significant disruption to noise impacts involving the potential demolishment to build roads and housing development, including heavy traffic and pollution since 130 plus cars could be on the land.
"The builds will overlook and overbear on existing homes - blockading natural light and depriving us of privacy. There is also vital wildlife here that will be stripped - the removal of this should not be replaced with 'habitual boxes', it's unnatural and cruel."
There are also more pressing concerns, as longstanding residents claim the land has potential 'flood risks', despite the Environment Agency classing it as 'flood zone 1' - meaning the chance of flooding is less than one in 1,000 in any year, according to the plans.
But one resident said: "There's a stream that runs along the field, it's a nightmare - I've lived here 50 years and it's always been flooded throughout my garden and onto the land behind. I've experienced many water logging issues here and other properties backing onto the site have had houses underpinned. It's likely the new builds will be flooded too."
Part of the proposals includes energy-sufficient homes with a mix of two, three and four bedroom properties on the land, and improvements proposed to existing sports facilities including a new football pitch at Alexandra Park.
Phil Dolan, managing director of Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales, said: ""The proposals are the result of extensive pre-application consultation undertaken with the local community, Manchester City Council, MCRActive and other stakeholders.
"If approved, the scheme will deliver significant community benefits including 13 affordable homes, on-site biodiversity net gain, additional tree planting and upgrading the LED floodlights at neighbouring Maine Road FC."
However, Margret Stott, who has been a local resident for 40 years, says there is a 'misperception' of a need for new housing in Greater Manchester.
The retired head teacher told the Manchester Evening News: "On the site they're building houses not for people trying to get onto the property ladder, there are no starter homes, instead they are going to be sold at high market value - with only 13 houses rentable.
"Those are the houses that are needed, but instead the company will make a killing around here."
The GMYF charity owned the site since 1968 and leased the land to St Bede's College. The pitch has also been used by Maine Road FC for training but the area was last used in 2016. The site is currently inaccessible to the public and fenced off, as the 125-year-old organisation is now looking to develop the land and reinvest in other sites.
Resident of 33 years, Fiaz Ashraf, said: "The charity is supposed to look after young boys and girls, and are robbing them of ideal opportunities here. Children grew up playing on the field rather than playing on the surrounded main roads - it's a safe space for them."
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While retired teacher, Margaret Bradley, said: "The field was bequeathed for the use of the community, who have advocated for years to suggest that the field needed to be brought back to its original use since it ceased in 2016. We said we can maintain this land, but we never received a final response from them.
"Greenery is so valuable, but it feels they will try and build on any patch of grass."
According to locals, the planning application to residents was sent early December, but many claim to have not received theirs with a deadline of December 28. But since the Manchester Evening News contacted Manchester City Council about this issue, the deadline has been extended up to Wednesday, January 18.
A spokesperson for Anwyl Homes said: “We are working with all stakeholders and interested parties to try to mitigate any concerns raised during the planning application. All feedback received during the extensive pre-application consultation process has been carefully considered and, where possible, incorporated into the final planning application submitted to Manchester City Council.
“Full details of that application, along with our responses to the feedback and supporting documentation can be viewed online via the council’s planning portal. We are committed to ongoing engagement with the local community and would encourage anyone who has questions about the project to contact the project team via the project website ( www.anwylchorltonplans.co.uk ).”
A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: "As a local planning authority we are conscious to give local people ample opportunity to submit comments against an application. Given the disruption to local deliveries due to the national postal strike and the Christmas break we will extend the formal deadline up to Wednesday 18 January for this application."
The Manchester Evening News contacted the the Greater Manchester Youth Foundation for comment.
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