The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration has decided to approve the disposal of a site in Altrincham, which has been in a declining condition for many years, generating complaints of vermin, excessive dust, and health concerns.

URL: https://democratic.trafford.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1465

Decision Maker: Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The site is identified for disposal in the land sale review programme, approved by Executive in March 2025.   The Council is the freeholder of part of the land at Balmoral Road, Altrincham that has been leased to a family business, Allen’s Waste for 61 years.   The site has been in a declining condition for many years with waste accumulations extending well above the permitted height. The Council’s Environmental Protection team received numerous complaints regarding dust, odour, flies and rats and worked with the Environment Agency (who regulated the waste activities on site) over several years.   The required improvements to the site were not made and in 2023 the Environment Agency removed the waste permit on the site and ordered the site to be cleared of waste within a specified time.    Allens Waste abandoned the site leaving the significant accumulation of commercial waste materials. The Council continued to receive complaints of vermin, excessive dust and health concerns.   In 2024, the Council served a notice under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 on the site for action to be taken to control the vermin. No action was undertaken by Allens Waste, so the Council carried out works in default to bait the land to reduce the rat population. Council Officers continued to monitor the activity and reported an improvement in the signs of vermin.   Despite several attempts by the Council to manage the waste position with the leaseholder, the site remains in a very poor condition with significant commercial waste present.   The Council has been advised that the original leaseholders of the land have passed away.   The current owners have been working with a local developer to acquire the site for residential development.   This report will detail the plan for the disposal of this land to a developer  

Content: The site is identified for disposal in the land sale review programme, approved by Executive in March 2025.   The Council is the freeholder of part of the land at Balmoral Road, Altrincham that has been leased to a family business, Allen’s Waste for 61 years.   The site has been in a declining condition for many years with waste accumulations extending well above the permitted height. The Council’s Environmental Protection team received numerous complaints regarding dust, odour, flies and rats and worked with the Environment Agency (who regulated the waste activities on site) over several years.   The required improvements to the site were not made and in 2023 the Environment Agency removed the waste permit on the site and ordered the site to be cleared of waste within a specified time.    Allens Waste abandoned the site leaving the significant accumulation of commercial waste materials. The Council continued to receive complaints of vermin, excessive dust and health concerns.   In 2024, the Council served a notice under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 on the site for action to be taken to control the vermin. No action was undertaken by Allens Waste, so the Council carried out works in default to bait the land to reduce the rat population. Council Officers continued to monitor the activity and reported an improvement in the signs of vermin.   Despite several attempts by the Council to manage the waste position with the leaseholder, the site remains in a very poor condition with significant commercial waste present.   The Council has been advised that the original leaseholders of the land have passed away.   The current owners have been working with a local developer to acquire the site for residential development.   This report will detail the plan for the disposal of this land to a developer   1)    That the history with the site, the current condition and plan for remediation, be noted.   2)    That the disposal of the site in accordance with the general terms set out in the report, be approved.   3)    That the Corporate Director, Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance, be delegated authority to negotiate, finalise and agree the terms for the disposal as set out in the report.   4)    That the Director of Legal and Governance be delegated authority to enter into any legal agreement or other document required to implement the decision. The site is identified for disposal in the land sale review programme, approved by Executive in March 2025. The site has been in a declining condition for many years, generating complaints of vermin, excessive dust and health concerns. The plan to dispose of the site, with an obligation upon the purchaser to undertake remediation, represents a good opportunity for the Council to address a potentially significant liability together with the associated concerns.   Do nothing – the Council can choose to not dispose of the site, however, the Council has tried on numerous occasions to enforce the management of the site without success. Doing nothing is not considered to be a viable option due to the environmental conditions on the site and the risk this poses to the Council and the general public.   The Council could choose to undertake remediation itself, prior to disposal of the land. This comes with cost risk to the Council. The developer remediation of the land removes the risk.  

Date of Decision: August 22, 2025