Trafford Council has unveiled plans for a £73,000 all-season path around the Cowfield at Oldfield Brow in a move it says will provide better access for wheelchair users, families and cyclists to enjoy the green space year-round.
The announcement comes just months after the council's planning committee approved a controversial nine-home housing development on nearby land, which had sparked fierce opposition from residents who accused the authority of deliberately avoiding affordable housing requirements.
The new surfaced path will circle the entire Cowfield - also known as the Oldfield Brow Recreation Ground - with the council saying it will transform access to a space "renowned as an optimum location to see the sun rise and set".
The improved route is also intended to benefit pupils at Oldfield Brow Primary School, providing a safe, traffic-free alternative entrance and exit point, and the project will include installation of a new school gate.
"Cowfield is an important place for children and adults wanting to play and walk close to their homes, but it hasn't been very accessible for wheelchairs and prams," said Councillor Liz Patel, Trafford Council's Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration. "We're delighted to add this new walking, wheeling and cycle route."
The path will enable visitors to explore the field during wet winter weather when the ground becomes boggy and difficult to navigate.
The £73,000 project will be funded through financial contributions secured from approved developments, with construction scheduled for later this year. Community groups G-Force and the Friends of Cowfield helped develop the plans based on residents' priorities for improvements.
Paul Huxley, leader of G-Force, said: "It's really wonderful to see the commitment of active residents and local partners deliver such amazing results for the Oldfield Brow community."
The council and partners are seeking additional match funding to cover all project costs.
The path announcement follows heated debate over Trafford Council's approval of nine luxury homes on land at nearby Stokoe Avenue.
The housing scheme, put forward by the council's own development arm, attracted criticism for proposing exactly nine properties - one fewer than the threshold requiring affordable housing provision.
Local residents, including vocal opponent Paul O'Keefe, argued the council was "circumventing" its own affordable housing policy by keeping the development below 10 homes. The proposed houses, each expected to sell for over £500,000, were described as unaffordable for many local residents.
Conservative Councillor Phil Eckersley, who represents the area, voted against the housing application partly due to concerns about transparency regarding funding for Cowfield Park improvements.
Construction dates for both the new path and the approved housing development have not yet been announced.
