200 homes plans set for approval
ALMOST 200 homes could soon be built on two sites in Burscough. Plans have been put forward to build 124 homes on land to the north of Meadowbrook as well as a separate application to build another 66 off Briars Lane.
Both proposals will go before the West Lancashire Borough Council planning committee tonight (Thursday) and are likely to be approved despite local concerns about the suitability of the area for new homes as well as the impact on existing residents.
The first plan is for a mixture of one, two, three and four bedroom homes built on the land near Meadowbrook, with 43 designated as “affordable”.
The homes will be designed to match those already in the area and will be a combination of detached, semi-detached and terraced housing, along with a small number of bungalows.
The application has been the subject of huge amounts of correspondence from residents.
Among other issues, the most frequently cited concerns were over the possibility of increased flooding and that the land had previously been safeguarded from development.
The plan has also been the subject of several letters of support to the council, arguing that there is a need for housing in the town.
Many of the letters came from people who said they have grown up in the area and wanted to buy their own property here.
Bloor Homes, the developer behind the plan, argues that it has considered detailed feedback from residents and factored it into the application, notably by styling the new builds on existing homes.
The initial application states: “The proposed type of housing will help to create a sustainable community where people can live close to local amenities and transport links. High quality family housing is appropriate to the context and will meet a local demand for this type of accommodation within the area.
Under the second proposal, 24 three-bed houses and 30 fourbed houses will be built along with a block of 12 two-bed flats.
The development would be built on the land off Briars Lane and is described by Taylor Wimpey, the company behind the plans, as featuring “high quality” homes.
In order to build the homes, existing derelict warehouses would be demolished and a section of trees bordering the neighbouring canal cut down.
Both plans will go before the planning committee tonight and have been recommended for approval in a report prepared by the council’s planning officer.