Concerns build over housing plans

The plans, submitted to South Ribble Council by Persimmon Homes, are to build 261 new homes on land north of Brindle Road in Bamber Bridge.

It is expected to include a range of two to five bedroom houses, with 30 per cent of properties being affordable housing.

Local resident Derek Rogerson said: “One of the main concerns surrounds congestion; Brindle Road is a local country road and not equipped for this.

“At rush hour the traffic is already bad. More housing will make it even worse.”

Mr Rogerson said there are also concerns about demands placed on schools and doctors surgeries.

County coun for Bamber Bridge, Jim Marsh, said: “Residents are extremely frustrated at what’s going on.”

Coun Marsh said an action group meeting is taking place next on August 29 at 7:30pm to discuss plans.

The new application follows an unsuccessful attempt in 2014 by Persimmon to build 283 homes on the same plot.

Residents groups Brindle Road Action Group and South Ribble East Rural Action Group objected to the original plans, calling for houses to be built less densely.

Regarding fresh concerns, Persimmon Homes said: “As part of the proposals, we have fully considered the local highway network both in terms of the site itself and the neighbouring roads, and we are confident that we have robustly identified where improvements are required.”

They added: “The provision of school places is considered by the Local Authority and Local Education Authority as part of the Community Infrastructure Levy for South Ribble and therefore the payment that this application would generate takes account of provision of new school places.”