Homes go-ahead despite scores of objections
PLANS to build 40 homes – which have received more than 125 objections – have been approved.
Seddon Homes now has permission to build a new estate on land off Collingwood Way in the south of Westhoughton, Bolton.
A meeting of Bolton council’s planning committee heard concerns from local councillors about ‘never ending development’ in the town. Seddon said that 35 per cent of the homes on the estate are to be affordable, 14 of the 40 dwellings proposed.
Nine of the homes are proposed to be for rent with the remaining five for intermediate housing.
Michael Jefferson, managing director of Seddon, said: “This site is ideal for housing and we have reduced the numbers from 43 for the best possible layout.
“We will secure the long term future of allotment gardens on the site and hope ownership will be transferred. We have provided a stand off from Pennington Brook which will enable improvement to the landscaping which will have a positive impact for ecology along the water course.”
He said the development would mean Seddon would contribute £144,000 towards education in the area if the plans were approved. Two previous planning applications for residential development on the site were refused in 2006 and subsequently dismissed on appeal. Local councillor Anna Marie Watters said she would support the proposal on balance as Seddon had a proven good track record in the area but criticised what she saw as massive over development of the area.
She said: “Westhoughton has seen population increase by 100 per cent in 30 years. Currently we have six developments in a small area.
“How many more houses can be built in this area before enough is enough? Properties are built and we still have the same doctors and the same schools and the increase in population is huge.
“However, I am not going to vote against this. We do need to do the right thing when the right thing is put in front of us even though it breaks my heart to approve a development in Westhoughton I am going to recommend approval.”
Coun David Wilkinson voted against the proposals.
He said highways officers who had evaluated little traffic impact that they were ‘living in cuckoo land’ and highlighted issues he had seen that day on Church Street near the railway station where he saw ‘horrendous traffic problems’.
The plans describe a range of two storey house types, with terraced, semi-detached and detached properties. Each of them will be provided with front and rear gardens along with designated car parking spaces.
Some 126 objections received over the plans.
A summary of the key issues raised by objectors included that ‘the land is now the only bit of green belt attached to the estate left used by local community’ and that ‘the development is being built on a greenfield site. were