Eutopia gets ‘virtual’ permission for 500-home Salford scheme

Salford Council’s first ever virtual planning committee has approved plans from brownfield developer Eutopia Homes for a 500-flat scheme on the River Irwell.

The developer said the £105m scheme will provide 250 homes for sale and 250 for private rent, as well as a new waterfront walkway.

Salford is one of a number of planning authorities to convene planning committees online following the imposition of the coronavirus lockdown and new legislation from government allowing “virtual” council meetings.

Eutopia’s scheme sits on two adjacent sites with a combined area of 2.8 acres, and Eutopia said extensive landscaping will provide outdoor communal space for residents as well as a net gain in biodiversity.

The approval follows on from Eutopia winning permission for a £130m “urban village” in Exeter providing 465 homes across 15 acres.

Scott Hammond, founder of Eutopia Homes, saluted Salford for approving the scheme despite the lockdown which had made physical planning committee meetings impossible. He said: “Coronavirus has caused a huge amount of upheaval and local authorities have been particularly hard hit by the disruption. The Council has demonstrated a speed of decision making in difficult times which is testament to the desire to attract inward investment”