A recent High Court judgement has 'weakened' national policy on the protection of green spaces, the mayor of Salford has warned.

Mayor Paul Dennett has urged the Government to back councils in protecting green spaces after a recent judgement between Cheshire East Council and the secretary of state for local government and communities.

Mr Dennett said: 'The court judgement means that policies to protect local green spaces – the policies Salford City Council relied on in rejecting this inappropriate development – now do not have the force they should under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

'This has implications for every council in the country and risks much of our green and pleasant land disappearing under building projects.'

The council had originally rejected a planning application by Peel to build 600 houses on land called Broadoak. It argued the area was protected from development because of its openness and importance as a walking and cycling route.

However, the council said the recent Cheshire East decision has thrown that decision into 'doubt' and expects the appeal to be quashed.