THESE images reveal how land belonging to a former primary school will be transformed into a housing estate.

Bellmac Developments have been given the green light ­— in principle— to develop 40 homes on the site of the former SS Osmund's Primary School in Breightmet.

The development would feature two and three bed houses and 24 one and two bedroom apartments on the land surrounded by Blenheim Road, St Osmunds Drive and Breightmet Drive. Ten of the houses are to be semi-detached properties and the other six are proposed as terraced/town houses.

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But says the firm said the development would suffer a loss if it had to give 'back to the community' by funding affordable housing and play facilities.

Planning officer Jodie Turton said: "The applicant has submitted a viability assessment with their application which concludes that the proposed development is unable to support any Section 106 contribution based mainly on the abnormal costs associated with the site, significant level changes, drainage, contamination and low values of property in the areas.
"With the contribution the development would make a loss."

She added council consultants agreed that the development is unable to support any contributions and that the Section 106 'claw back' clause is not considered necessary.

The proposals received seven objections, including about the traffic impact.

Cllr Sean Hornby raised concerns about "yet another application" with regard to a non contribution.

"Can I have assurance that we will definitely be following this all the way through to ensure whether or not Section 106 can be clawed back at a later stage," he said.

"I do have some concerns with regard to Section 106, we could be setting a precedent here with all follow up application in the current climate could use the same excuse.

"A Section 106 is a way of giving the community something back." Cllr Hornby also asked about traffic from the site.

He told the planning committee: "It's a site where it desperately needs developing and it is in a nice location near to Leverhulme Park and be an improvement on that corner."

Miss Turton said it's "unlikely'"the development would have any greater impact than the school on traffic.

Cllr Nick Peel asked if in future the profit margin was above the 'viability' test then could the council apply for Section 106 monies.

Miss Turton said such an agreement could be drawn up so if they development made a profit over a certain amount then the could recoup some of the contributions.

The planning decision was delegated to the director for 'determination of the detail of the 106 agreement'.