A PUBLIC inquiry has been launched after a developer made an appeal against Trafford Council.

The authority had not decided on an application for 400 homes on land near the village of Warburton by developers Redrow Homes in the time legally allowed.

Redrow Homes then appealed to the Planning Inspectorate over the council’s ‘non-determination’ of its application for the land on Warburton Lane.

As a result of the appeal, the government has appointed chartered town planner Christina Downes as the inspector for a public inquiry into the matter, which began this morning.

The inquiry is due to last for at least 12 days, with evidence presented to the inspector from both parties’ barristers. Barristers for the council, Redrow Homes and Warburton parish council have made opening statements.

Developers first submitted plans for the 400 homes in May 2019, looking for outline planning permission from the council for their proposals.

The council maintains the application should be refused, on the grounds it believes the plan is in an unsustainable location, will lead to an extremely congested local road network, considerable landscape harm and there is no affordable housing provided.

Redrow maintains changes made to the original application reduce the significance of these impacts.

One neighbour, Clare Grace, told the inquiry: “This is a medieval village and this is an immense development."

She also raised concerns about a lack of affordable housing as part of the scheme.