Hundreds of new homes to get go-ahead
Councillors urged to approve plans for Grove Farm site
HUNDREDS of new homes and a new park could soon be built in Ormskirk. The plans for Grove Farm are due to be decided on by councillors next week.
Taylor Wimpey wants to construct 313 houses and flats and a linear park on the site.
West Lancs planning officers are urging councillors to give their backing to the scheme.
PLANS for hundreds of homes to be built in Ormskirk will be debated by councillors next week.
Proposals to build 313 homes and a linear park at the Grove Farm site will be discussed at the planning committee meeting on June 21.
In July last year, Taylor Wimpey submitted plans for the site, which are recommended for approval subject to certain conditions.
It is proposed to build 313 dwellings across the site in a mix of bungalows, two-storey terrace blocks, semi’s and detached houses. as well as two blocks of three-storey apartments.
It is proposed that 20% of these are affordable. The affordable units include 32 three-bed mews houses and 32 apartments.
Some of the housing mix on the site will be suitable for the elderly – such as the 14 bungalows and the 10 ground-floor apartments.
The proposed phasing strategy for the site estimates that the construction will take place over eight years.
Two access points to High Lane (A59) are proposed, one to the south of Hilbre and one to the south of Redgowrie, each will include a central refuge area.
The junction of Burscough Road with County Road will be altered to create a roundabout.
Along the southern edge of the site, next to the Preston to Ormskirk railway line, runs a ditch , a tributary of Abbey Brook. This runs straight but will be altered to engineer a meandering watercourse with a linear park created next to it as well as a play area and a drainage pond.
The linear park will meet an existing play area on Pine Grove at its western end and continue across the adjacent fields next to the railway line at its eastern end, where it will eventually meet a future link through to Abbey Lane and Burscough beyond.
Sixteen letters of objection have been received by the council, stating concern over increased noise and disturbance and worries over an increase in traffic in the area, among other concerns.
Concerns have also been raised by Sport England, which objects to the plans, saying that the development is not sustainable and it has not been shown that there is adequate and accessible sporting provision, both built, and playing fields, in the vicinity of the development and no suitable contributions have been sought to address this.
However, letters of support have also been received and the planning office has recommended the plans for approval,, subject to several conditions.
In his report to councillors, the assistant director for planning, John Harrison, said: “The principle of residential development is accepted on this site, given the Local Plan allocation and guidance.
“Although the level of affordable and specialist housing for the elderly are below those advocated for a fully policy compliant proposal, a detailed viability appraisal has been submitted and thoroughly scrutinised.
“The principles of the drainage strategy and ecological mitigation are satisfactory.
“The details of access to the site have been considered and found to be acceptable.
“Taking into account all of the above, I am satisfied that the proposed development is acceptable and in accordance with relevant Local Plan policies.”