Residents fears over new homes for Up Holland

Feb 9 2012 by Michael Byrne, Skelmersdale Advertiser

AN Up Holland resident fears plans for new homes could devastate the area.

Wainhomes have put in one application to West Lancashire Council for outline permission for 80 homes on land off Chequer Lane. More are expected if fields in the area are sold.

The land is currently designated as urban fringe. But that could change as the borough authority is proposing it should be made available for housing in its new draft Local Plan.

Mother-of-two Allison McIntosh, who has launched a petition against the proposed re-designation said: “Building these houses would devastate this area. We moved here because of the green fields and open space. We wanted to be able to take our children for nice walks across open fields but if these houses are built those fields will be gone forever. The roads around here are country lanes and they will not be able to take the extra traffic.”

Allison added: “We are annoyed that the council has been in contact with Wainhomes and advised the company that it should withdraw its application until the Local Plan and the designation change of the land is further advanced.”

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said: “Residents across Up Holland but especially on Chequer Lane are concerned by the Borough Council’s proposals as set out in the Local Plan. Currently the Council is consulting residents on its proposals. My message to the residents of Chequer Lane is to make sure they have their say and to make their voices heard. They can do so by sending a response into the consultation.”

A West Lancashire Council spokesman said: “We have allocated this land for housing development in the new draft Local Plan and estimate that it could cater for around 175 houses over the whole allocation. We have received an application for housing development by Wainhomes on part of the land. The council did ask Wainhomes to withdraw their application, the reason for this being that the application was lacking assessment reports in relation to noise, flood risk and tree issues and additionally, so that the draft Local Plan could be further advanced. Wainhomes indicated their wish to pursue their application and have not withdrawn.

“We will determine their application based on current planning policies and other material planning considerations.

“We stated we would prefer to see a comprehensive scheme for the whole of the proposed allocated site rather than a piecemeal development – how this is brought forward and whether it is by one or two parties is not a concern.

“The council has undertaken a wide and varied consultation exercise, including a special leaflet in a local newspaper that was sent to every household, which specifically mentioned the allocation of land at Chequer Lane. “The issue of the land at Chequer Lane has been discussed in the consultation forums and it appears that local people are well aware of the proposals.”

Wainhomes were unavailable for comment.