Vote for which option you would like West Lancashire council take for Green Belt Development

Feb 18 2011 Michael Byrne

SCHEMES for West Lancashire’s future which would create new jobs and thousands of new homes have been revealed.

Officers at West Lancashire Council have come up with three options which will form part of the core strategy for the borough up until 2027.

The council’s Local Development Framework Core Strategy would create 4,500 new homes and 87 hectares of employment land over 15 years from 2012 to 2027.

Officers estimate that 3,900 dwellings and 69 hectares of employment land could be incorporated within existing towns and villages.

Skelmersdale and Up Holland would get up to 3,000 new homes; Ormskirk and Aughton would get 300 dwellings; Burscough 200 homes; another 240 homes would be distributed between the Northern Parishes; 80 homes in the Eastern Parishes and 80 homes in the Western Parishes.

Most new employment land would come from existing allocations for development in Skelmersdale, Burscough, Banks and Appley Bridge and changes to existing industrial sites. About 20 hectares of Green Belt land would have to be used for 600 homes and another 18 for employment land.

The Green land tally could rise to 90 hectares if there are development problems such as the lack of infrastructure in the Northern Parishes.

In their report to Cabinet, officers have said this option has several advantages and disadvantages.

It would ensure a more even distribution of housing around the borough, helping to better meet housing need and demand in all parts, including for affordable housing.

All the potential areas for residential development are reasonably well served by key services and sustainable transport.

Community benefits provided by developments – such as affordable housing, public open space and environmental enhancements) would be spread around several settlements.

The main disadvantages are that Banks would ultimately be subject to a relatively high level of development in comparison to its size.

Another issue is that this option would not contribute to the resolution of students accommodation issues related to growth in student numbers at Edge Hill University, although it does enable the reconfiguration of the existing campus to help address such issues.

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