‘These houses are not selling – yet we’re going to build more’ Homes decision prompts 'disappointment

A controversial plan for new homes on 14 acres of Lancashire farmland has narrowly been approved, prompting disappointment among objectors. The decision has sparked concerns among some that it could pave the way for plans for hundreds more homes in the future.

Wain Homes North West has been given permission to build 122 homes on land east of Prescot Road in Aughton, near Ormskirk. West Lancashire Council’s planning committee narrowly voted in favour of the plan this week, with six councillors in favour and five against.

Supporters say it will help meet housing needs and is well-designed. But the application has prompted hundreds of objections over concerns about the loss of farmland and pressures on local health services and roads.

Aughton councillors Gordon Johnson and Anne Marie Hughes have both highlighted concerns. Coun Johnson said: “We said this farmland should be kept for agriculture and stay safeguarded. We also highlighted pressures on the NHS clinic at Aughton – and also on Ormskirk Hospital, which, separately, could lose its A&E services.

“Planning permission conditions include a cash contribution by the developer to extending Aughton’s health surgery. The current clinic is small and on a restricted plot. And there’s no other plot nearby where a bigger clinic could be built.

“For people walking near the new homes, a central reservation is proposed on the road. But the traffic is fast and a proper pedestrian crossing is needed. Children going to school or people pushing prams won’t want a central reservation.”

He added: “Planning laws make it difficult to object because each application must be considered in isolation. Although we expect two or three other housing applications near this site around Aughton and towards Town Green station, we can’t refer to them under planning rules. Together, all these plans will impact Aughton and Ormskirk – but that is not a valid argument in planning.

“However, if all these estates are approved, we’ll be looking at up to 1,500 new homes. And there are also plans for homes on the east side of Ormskirk near Ruff Wood. So all the issues about land, the NHS, roads and schools are going to come back.”

He also believed the Prescot Road farmland site would not have been considered for house building in the past. But the government’s push for new homes has brought new targets for councils.

Coun Johnson said: “Elsewhere, there are currently 640 existing houses for sale in this area. These houses are not selling – yet we’re going to build more.”

Coun Hughes added: “We are very disappointed at the permanent loss of this important agricultural land to satisfy nationally-imposed arbitrary housing targets.”

However, council planning officers supported the Prescot Road plan. They said the benefits would outweigh the harms, such as lost farmland. And measures could be taken to protect and re-use soil and to help hedges.

They recommended councillors to approve it, subject to an agreement and cash contributions. They suggested Wain Homes pay a total of over £500,000 towards open space provision elsewhere, Aughton health clinic and other needs.