Housing scheme slated for approval at second attempt

A bid to build 130 new homes in Thornton Cleveleys has been recommended for approval by council planning officers.

Developer BXB Thornton is behind the scheme on Fleetwood Road North, which was deferred at a previous planning committee meeting.

The project, a joint venture between Promenade Estates and brownfield land specialist BXB, will deliver a new link road into the Hillhouse enterprise zone if consent is granted, says BXB director Gary Goodman.

“We’ve had a very constructive dialogue with the local authority and are pleased to be back before the planning committee with another recommendation to approve.
” The land is allocated for housing and will help the authority meet its targets, but as importantly it will play a key role in opening up more land for commercial development at the enterprise zone.

“Job creation and long term commercial investment has never been more vital and we would be pleased to make such a key contribution to the local economy.”

Mr Goodman says the scale of upfront investment needed to make the site available for building new homes means that it is not possible to fully support other desired investments, such as affordable housing.

“There’s a lot going into the ground to enable us to deliver the site. Issues such as drainage, site levels, biodiversity mitigation and the building of the link road all pose challenges to the scheme’s overall viability, but we think we have reached a satisfactory middle ground in our discussions with the local authority,” he said.

The application followed an extensive public consultation, with almost 1,800 households and businesses surrounding the site behind the popular Iron Horse public house invited to submit their views on the scheme. The findings led to several revisions, including reducing the number of houses to be built.

The recommended proposals include structural landscaping and green infrastructure, alongside the construction of a cycle/footway through the development, which will have two points of vehicular access.

Planning consultant, Peter Tooher of Nexus Planning, who is advising the developer, says data has shown that the overall impact of the scheme on the local road network would be limited, meaning that further off-site highway works are not needed.

“We have identified the trip rates during peak periods and the development will have very little impact on the capacity of the local highways network, which is well capable of absorbing new traffic,” said Mr Tooher.

“As such, we can demonstrate to the local authority the scheme will not raise any congestion or highway safety issues.’’

The 12-acre site was acquired in February 2021, and previously enjoyed consent for a supermarket, permission for which has now lapsed. Dan Hynd, of Promenade, says the firm’s ‘brownfield first’ strategy remains a key focus, going forward: “We’re pleased that we can utilise allocated land within the urban area and, thereby, avoid eating into the greenbelt,” he said.

“The investment in flood mitigation, cycleways and a wildlife corridor will deliver widespread benefits for the community.”

The planning application will be heard at Wyre Council’s next planning committee on February 1.

Other consultants advising the project team include Erap (ecology and environment), Curtins (transport planning), Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson (drainage and flooding) and Brock Carmichael (architects).