Manchester City Council has granted permission to designate Ryebank Fields in Chorlton as a community woodland and meadow, marking a significant moment in a long-running dispute between local residents and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), which owns the land. The site, a 4.5-acre area previously used as university playing fields, has been informally rewilded by the community over several decades.
The council’s planning committee unanimously approved a rival application submitted by the Ryebank Fields Community Group, which seeks to preserve the space as a green area accessible to the public. The decision followed the receipt of nearly 700 supportive comments and 64 objections. Planning officers recommended approval with conditions, noting that it is standard practice to consider multiple applications for contrasting uses on the same land.
Dr Rhetta Moran, representing the community group, expressed satisfaction with the council’s decision, emphasizing the ecological and social value of the site. She highlighted the biodiversity benefits, noting that the fields contain over 1,500 trees, rare plants, and several protected species. According to Dr Moran, the area serves as an important “green lung” for the city, contributing to air quality and providing habitat for urban wildlife.
Despite the council’s approval, MMU has reiterated its intent to proceed with its own plan to develop 120 homes on the site. The university’s application includes a mix of market-rate homes, social rent properties tailored for older residents, co-housing units, and housing for young autistic adults. It also proposes retaining about one-third of the land as green space and undertaking remedial work to address contamination concerns.
Kevin Hartley, MMU’s solicitor, stated clearly that the university does not support the community group’s plan and will not implement any consent granted for it. He cited surface-level asbestos and heavy metal contamination on the fields as ongoing environmental hazards, which led to the site being closed to the public since 2020. Although council environmental officers assessed the risk to the public as low, they recommended regular monitoring and restricting access to areas identified as hazardous.
The community group agreed to these conditions, underscoring their commitment to managing the site responsibly. While the planning committee’s decision represents a symbolic victory for residents, the designation of Ryebank Fields as a community woodland is not legally binding without the landowner’s consent.
The dispute continues to face challenges. Council officers consider MMU’s development plans acceptable in principle, and a separate controversy has emerged in neighboring Trafford borough, where councillors rejected officer advice regarding an access road linked to MMU’s proposed housing project.
In summary, the Ryebank Fields conflict remains unresolved as Manchester city officials balance competing interests between community conservation efforts and the university’s development ambitions.