New homes plan for Longton swimming pool site

Duncan Jackson, owner of Longton Pool at the rear of 120 Marsh Lane, Longton, is seeking outline planning permission to develop the pool site, wider forecourt area, and demolish the existing house.

It comes after he withdrew plans to build four houses on the pool site and wider forecourt area, as well as replace the existing house on the plot.

>>>Read about the previous application hereWhen those plans were announced in July last year, Mr Jackson claimed he was only “testing the water”, and as there were 500 children using the pool to learn to swim, he had “no intention whatsoever” of shutting the pool.

Mr Jackson was unavailable for comment on his latest plans, but a planning statement submitted to South Ribble Council on his behalf said: “The site lends itself naturally for this development and will fit into the surrounding area without detracting from the visual amenity or encroaching onto the greenbelt.”

It goes on to point out that South Ribble Council has not obtained its housing targets, and suggests the proposal could offer a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme or part rental part purchase.

It also states: “In many respects the proposed development will create a more rural feeling with large gardens showing a well designed scheme taking into account the immediate residential locality.”

The site has a long history of development, with Mr Jackson also having run a haulage business from the site for more than twenty years.

Planning agent Robert Gifford von Schiller suggests that previous consents for business use show that “development on the site is acceptable in principal and a sympathetic well designed development would be acceptable in the area.”