Preston prepares masterplan for 4,000 homes
PRESTON City Council wants to see the development of 4,000 homes to the north west of the city centre.
It has appointed the consultants URS Infrastructure and Environment Ltd to work on a masterplan that will seek to improve the infrastructure of the area.
In September plans from the Homes and Communities Agency and housebuilder Taylor Wimpey for 1,100 homes at Cottam Hall were approved which the council says has taken existing amenities to “saturation point”.
Last month plans for 680 homes in Fulwood across two schemes from Redrow and CEG Land Promotions were knocked back.
In a statement the council’s deputy leader John Swindells said: “Preston is a great place to live and there is much demand from housing developers to build and invest here. But it is very much a case of ‘chicken and egg’.
“Preston does not yet have the roads, schools or community infrastructure ready to support up to 4,000 new homes. There’s no point building the homes for people to get snarled up in traffic, or for children to have no school or play areas. It is also important to get the right mix of development in terms of affordable, starter homes and also family homes.
“That’s why we are preparing a comprehensive master plan of the whole north west Preston area. This will help to work out exactly what type of development and supporting infrastructure is needed for the new residents that will live there.”
