Controversial housing proposals set for planners for third time

Contentious plans to build 330 new homes on land between Poulton and Carleton are set to be considered by Wye planners for the third time.

The application to build the homes on farmland south of Blackpool Road have already been deferred twice, in December and January.

The proposals, submitted by De Pol Associates on behalf of land owner Blackpool Council, are to go before Wyre's planning committee again next week, on Wednesday March 3.

The scheme has drawn criticism because of traffic concerns but is particularly controversial as the site proposed for the new homes has not been allocated for development in Wyre's Local Plan.

This has angered a number of councillors who say the applicants are riding roughshod over the council and its Government-backed housing blueprint.

There are already a number of separate housing proposals by other developers on neighbouring land, involving around 300 additional homes.

And the application has acquired still more complexity by the involvement of the Secretary of State for Housing, which might have a bearing on how it proceeds.

At the previous planning meeting the committee deferred the

application to seek confirmation by the Secretary of State whether or not he wishes to call-in the application for his determination.

Council papers prepared for next week's meeting stated: "Following the January 6 committee meeting the Planning Casework Unit for

the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) have confirmed that before any consultation referral can be made a definitive resolution is required to be made on the application.

"This is before the Secretary of State can assess the request to

call in and decide if a formal referral is or is not required.

"Members are therefore required to make a resolution on the application before the Secretary of State will decide whether or not he wishes to get involved and call-in the application."

The proposals are being recommended for approval by planning officers, which has in itself created controversy.

Residents in Carleton and Poulton have voiced concerns about the traffic implications on roads which are already experiencing congestion at peak times, including Blackpool Road itself.

But De Pol have forwarded new data for the application in which they say they have address the key traffic management and road safety issues.

The application was first submitted by De Pol Associates after Blackpool Council, was granted £3.15 million from the Government to unlock a number of sites for housing.