Unused Penwortham bowling green could be turned into eight two-bedroom retirement bungalows

A new development of retirement bungalows is planned for a former bowling green in Penwortham,
Proposed 3D Image of the planned development within the existing residential areaProposed 3D Image of the planned development within the existing residential area
Proposed 3D Image of the planned development within the existing residential area

Proposals for eight two-bedroom properties on the land at Crownlee have been put forward by Fairhaven Housing Association.

The plans also include a landscaping scheme for communal use alongside the change of use of a first floor community centre flat into an office and ground floor extension.

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Existing residents have welcomed the development after they were involved in a consultation exercise in October.

They felt it was a positive contribution to their local community - including the new communal areas and alterations to the community centre.

Residents' comments on the design are being taken into consideration by the applicant who has submitted plans to South Ribble Council.

Planning councillors will be told in a planning statement supporting the application that the land, at which the development is largely located upon, was formerly used as a bowling green.

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However following a lack of use of the site for bowling, it now stands vacant.

It is next to All Hallows Catholic High School, Crabtree Avenue.

The statement adds: "This has been confirmed within the written pre-application response, which noted that the Sports Development Team acknowledges bowling is not in high demand and there was no prior knowledge of the existence of the bowling green at this site.

"The land is seldom maintained and as such, its redevelopment, particularly with an appropriate hard and soft landscaping scheme, would improve the aesthetic of the local area."

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As regards the properties themselves, each bungalow will comprise two bedrooms, a bathroom and an open plan kitchen, lounge and dining area.

The proposed new office in the community centre would be used by the applicant.

The centre will have eight designated car parking spaces.

The Penwortham Neighbourhood Development Plan, put together’ in March 2017, noted a desire of the Penwortham community for 'greater provision of smaller one- and two-bedroom properties, bungalows and specialised retirement property, for an older population'.

A total of 18 per cent of residents in Penwortham are over the age of 65..

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Regarding the loss of the bowling green, the statement concluded: " . . . given that the existing bowling green central to the retirement development has fallen unused by existing residents, the land does not satisfy a recreational need in the local area and the development would therefore not detrimentally affect the amenity value, nor the nature conservation value of the site."

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