New homes for former Lostock Hall Primary School site after flood fears drain away

Westchurch Homes has now been given the green light to build 50 new properties on the site which was once home to Lostock Hall Primary School, on Avondale Drive.

South Ribble Borough Council’s planning committee deferred their decision on the development in October after locals warned that the already under-strain drains in the area would be unable to cope with any additional pressure. Members heard that there had been incidents where homes had had to be “bailed out”.

Westchurch had argued that the scheme - to be delivered in conjunction with Preston-based social landlord Community Gateway Association - would actually improve the current situation by holding rainwater on the site and slowly discharging it.

However, following the committee’s deferral, an independent consultant was commissioned to assess the drainage plans for the site and the surrounding area.

The resultant report concluded that the developer had “adequately considered” the flood risk posed to the development in view of the existing surface water conditions during periods of extreme rainfall - and also mitigated flooding risks arising from the development itself.

The committee heard that the developer had sat down with residents and local councillors since the last meeting. Lostock Hall ward member Jacqui Mort thanked Westchurch “for listening, for being practical and for the positive results which have been achieved” following a drainage investigation that involved the use of CCTV.

“Although there is no remit [for them] to fix any existing problems…a full and very comprehensive technical report from the independent consultant, complete with photographs, was supplied to ward councillors and to the residents.

“This report also highlighted the possible cause of the existing flooding issues coming from the United Utilities adopted sewer,” Cllr Mort said

Neither United Utilities nor Lancashire County Council - as the lead local flood authority - objected to the application, although the latter suggested further work to investigate the wider flooding issues.

Westchurch Homes' internal planner Jane Aspinall said that the firm had taken the issues raised by residents “very seriously”.

The committee heard that other concerns had also been addressed, including the inclusion of a “more usable” play area within the development for the under-6’s, as opposed to the open space previously proposed, and the relocation of apartments that were originally proposed to back onto properties on Wilkinson Street.

Six objections from four residents still remained to the plans, but that was down from the 47 - - several from the same individual - lodged in response to the original proposal.

Committee member Caroline Moon welcomed the improvements, but said that “if only [developers] could do this in the first place, it would be much better for everybody” to avoid “the level of upset” caused to those living in the vicinity of new developments.

The new estate will be made up of 42 terrace and semi-detached houses – ranging from two to four bedrooms – and eight one-bedroomed apartments. All of the properties will fall into the affordable homes category.

Lostock Hall Primary School moved from its Avondale Drive home in 2010, but it was more than a decade before the building was finally demolished late last year.