'House of horror' site will see 38 new homes

The plans from applicant Pillars Construction was passed unanimously by members of Preston City Council at a planning meeting on Thursday, July 12.

Park House, in Garstang Road was where Judge William Openshaw was murdered in 1981 in a revenge killing.

Now the site will make way for the 38 new homes including eight affordable homes, four of which will be flats and the other four houses.

During the meeting councillors took issue with the affordable homes being clumped together in one area.

Coun Pauline Brown expressed concern that people moving into the flats would be slapped with a negative label.

She said: “It really really annoys me again that we are grouping affordable housing together.

Coun Stuart Greenhalgh was in agreement.

“Why are they all in one building? They need to be pepper potted,” he said.

Before members passed the scheme officers confirmed with Pillars Construction to ensure that the affordable homes would be separated into different areas.

Welcoming the outcome after the development meeting chairman of Broughton Parish Council Pat Hasting said: “We have accepted this as part of our village envelope in our neighbourhood plan.

“We have got one of the largest numbers of people over 70 living in a large house and there are no affordable properties that they can move into. We need starter homes and we need finisher homes.”