A developer has scrapped plans to divert a 300-year-old riverside footpath through a hotel lobby after public outcry that a right of way was being “stolen” and “sacrificed for private gain”.
Salford council came under huge public pressure last year after councillors granted planning permission to Legal & General (L&G) to close a towpath by the River Irwell to make way for an office complex and a 16-storey, 260-bed hotel.
After the Guardian picked up the story last summer, the mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett, called for an urgent review of the decision, saying the default position should always be to protect public rights of way.
L&G has now amended its plans after meeting campaigners from the campaign group Our Irwell. It now guarantees that “from the hotel opening date the towpath shall be dedicated as highway for use by pedestrians for public access in perpetuity” and that the hotel will not open until “the route is open and available for use by the public.”
The contested path is in Salford’s rapidly gentrifying Blackfriars neighbourhood, right on the border with Manchester. It runs opposite the glitzy Spinningfields district, home to Manchester’s branch of the celebrity restaurant The Ivy and numerous financial and legal institutions.
Planning permission for the development was originally granted by Salford council in January 2022 despite strong objections.
Dr Morag Rose, a lecturer in urban geography who led the Our Irwell campaign, said the group was satisfied that the outcome was “the best possible solution under current planning legislation”.
She said: “We hope Ralli Quays can set a precedent to stop private developers stealing public land and blocking rights of way. The river is a vital part of our collective heritage and treasured by many in Salford, Manchester and beyond.
“The right to roam is a vital issue in urban areas as well as the countryside and we hope to build on this success. Ralli Quays is a small but significant stretch of land that demonstrates the importance and value of public space and access to nature for everyone.”
Another campaigner, Steven Lindsay, said: “I am delighted we seem to have managed to save access to our Irwell riverside walkway for future generations. Whilst it’s sad that the council seemed happy for it to be lost until people objected, and that it’s far too difficult for local residents to understand the planning processes and get involved, this is a great example of sense prevailing despite these issues.”
Simon Wilkes, head of development at Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) Real Assets, commented: “We are delighted that following constructive engagement we have reached a positive result for all parties. Although the original application complied with official policy, it became clear that the position was not universally supported by some within the community. We understand that this is an important area for many local people, so we’re looking forward to progressing with our plans and delivering positive outcomes for the wider community.”
