Decision tonight on Story Homes' controversial plan for 136 houses in Longton
Story Homes have recently completed a housing development on a neighbouring field.
A decision will be made tonight on a highly-controversial plan for 136 homes in Longton.
The housing designs would be similar to the developer’s recently-completed Longton Grange development in a neighbouring field off Reynard Close.
The main concerns raised include:
- The scale of development
- The impact on village character
- The traffic impact on Chapel Lane, which already has traffic calming measures and is often congested at school pick up and drop-off times.
- Some of the land is prone to flooding
- Loss of habitat
Longton Parish Council has also said that it considers that the proposed exit onto Chapel Lane “is totally inappropriate” and urges that an alternative exit/entrance be considered.
What is the plan?
Story Homes made an application to South Ribble Borough Council last summer, proposing 140 homes on land off Chapel Lane, saying 30 per cent of which would be ‘affordable’ homes for eligible local people. They said the development was been designed to complement the surrounding area, and would offer a mixture of one to six-bedroom properties.
The plans were amended in February, removing four homes, increasing affordable housing to 35 per cent (48 dwellings), changing the internal road layout and changes to some fencing heights.
What do planning officers say?
A report by SRBC planning officers has been produced ahead of tonight’s 6pm meeting at Leyland’s Civic Centre in West Paddock.
The report says: “It is recommended that planning permission should be granted subject to the imposition of conditions, with the decision to be delegated to the Chair or Vice Chair, and Head of Planning and Enforcement following successful completion of a S106 legal agreement to secure public open space, affordable housing, and biodiversity net gain, bus stop contribution and a financial contribution towards travel plan monitoring.”
The planning officer said that amendments have resulted in no objections from statutory consultees, that the proposal “abuts an established and densely built community and is located on an emerging housing allocation in the emerging plan” and that the proposal “will have an appropriate relationship to surrounding residential properties.”
Member of the planning committee will decide on whether to follow the recommendations.