The highly controversial Broadoak application was dismissed after the Pickles agreed with the Planning Inspector that planning permission be refused.
Protesters have been waiting almost six months for a decision and were visibly delighted today.
Three linked schemes at Aviary Field, Broadoak North and Broadoak South would have seen a 130-berth marina and hundreds of houses built on mainly private greenbelt land on either side of the A572 Worsley Road.
The report published this morning, Friday 27 March notes: “The Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector’s view that the intensity of the development, together with its proposed layout, would unnecessarily fragment the Greenway and totally destroy its character and continuity.
“He concludes too, in agreement with the Inspector, that there would be fundamental harm to the Greenway’s openness and to its value as an amenity, recreation resource and wildlife corridor.”
Salford City Council turned down the application back in November 2013 with over 540 objections from local residents.
Read: Delight for RAID as Peel Worsley Broadoak plans rejected
The council appointed one of the country’s top planning lawyers, QC Christopher Katkowski, to defend the decision at a two-week public inquiry in June last year.
Fears over drastically increased pressure on already packed roads, as well as school and GP places meant the multi-million pound development was inapproriate.
Robin Garrido, Conservative councillor for Worsley and publicity co-ordinator for protest group RAID told SalfordOnline.com today: “We are absolutely delighted with this news, from the beginning this has been about local people coming together and taking on the giant that is Peel.
“It was a very hard fight but with the support of people power we have achieved the near-impossible.”
Chair Karen Garrido added: “We’re absolutely thrilled.
“I want to thank every single resident who gave up their time and gave us information, helped to fundraise for us, and stood on the roads in the pitch dark counting traffic.”
The long-running saga is not at an end just yet: one recourse left for Peel is to challenge the decision in the High Court.
Karen added: “They [Peel] won’t go away, we’re going to have to be ready for the next battle.”
