LABOUR councillors in Salford joined campaigners yesterday to protect “green” land from the clutches of a developer.

Developer Peel Holdings wants to build 600 homes on protected land in Salford, but the council has a policy protecting land within its boundaries and it says it has enough land available for homes.

It refused planning permission. Peel Holdings appealed and lost, but is seeking a judicial review.

Salford’s planning chief councillor Derek Antrobus said that Salford had carried out a review of its housing land and has “enough to meet its need for the next five years.

“That is a game-changer. Developers can no longer cherry-pick sites. Even if Peel was to win its judicial review, the circumstances are now different and the council’s case for refusal even stronger. It seems wasteful to spend money on a legal action of this kind.”