Developer plays a provisional shot for housing plans on controversial golf club site

Peel’s northern housing developer Northstone has submitted planning applications for more than 250 homes at two schemes in Bolton.

It includes a new plan for the controversial Horwich Golf Club site as well as a development at Garnet Fold.

Northstone is already underway at its maiden development in Westhoughton in Bolton

Peel L&P has brought forward a back-up plan for the Horwich Golf Club site, which it acquired in 2012.

It had planning refused for 276 homes last year, which was already a slimmed-down scheme from 300 homes that had gone to a planning enquiry last year.

Northstone is appealing Bolton Council’s rejection but at the same time is seeking outline planning approval for 150 family homes on the site.

It would also create a 15-acre area of ecological and recreational green space that would be accessible to the community.

Jonathan England, development director at Northstone, part of Peel L&P, said: “Given the apparent increase in people visiting local parks around the country following lockdown, I believe our plans to create a new community green space for Horwich can positively impact on residents’ health and wellbeing, while also delivering benefits for ecology and the environment.”

Northstone is also looking to progress with a 108-home scheme at Garnet Fold.

The site is allocated for residential development in Bolton Council’s adopted Local Plan.

Northstone development manager Bernadette Barry said: “We embrace creating innovative, exceptional new developments and communities that focus on the needs of residents and our proposals for Garnet Fold will deliver this vision.”