Your thoughts wanted on plans for 400+ new homes in Farington

The Government wants to know your thoughts on plans to build up to 420 new homes on fields in Farington.

Last month the Post revealed that Homes England - the Government’s housing and regeneration department - had submitted scoping documents for two new estates just 600m apart.

The first plan mooted was for up to 200 homes on 8.3 hectares of land off Church Lane, Farington, and the second plan was for up to 220 homes on 11 hectares of land to off Brook Lane, Whitestake. Both developments would be 30 per cent affordable.

Now residents in the area have recieved a flyer from Homes England, asking the to have their say on the developing plans, before proposals are put to South Ribble Borough Council.

They say: “Your feedback will help us understand the issues and opportunities that are most important to you and inform the development of our plans.”

A website answering frequently asked questions (FAQs) and with a questionnaire has been developed for both plots of land: www.landoffchurchlane.co.uk and www.landatapsleyhouse.co.uk. Details on email and postal addresses for feedback is included on them.

Ward councillors George Rear and Karen Walton have urged people to have their say before the closing date for the consultation, which is November 29.

Land at Church Lane

The site - close to Whitfire Sawmill and Oakfield Fishery and Caravan Park - is currently safeguarded Land for Future Development. It has been historically connected to the now-demolished Cheshire House Farm, but owned by Homes England for decades.

Residential property ‘Oakwood’ is located within the northern portion of the site, along with its associated garden, which is proposed to be demolished to facilitate site access.

Land at Apsley House

The land around Apsley House off Brook Lane, Whitestake is 600m from the Church Lane site and also adjacent to the Pickerings Farm site which already has planning permission for up to 920 homes. The site is currently in agricultural use, located to the south of Chain House Lane, lying between Brook Lane to the west (with Penwortham Way a little further west) and the railway line to the east.

The proposed description of the development is: “Outline planning application for the erection of up to 220 dwellings (including 30 per cent affordable housing), public open space, landscaping, vehicular access and associated ancillary works and demolition of existing buildings on-site.”

The site is within the safeguarded land in the adopted South Ribble Local Plan, known as ‘South of Coote Lane, Chain House Lane, Farington’.

Other Homes England sites locally

Homes England owns other sites proposed for development in South Ribble, much of which has been inherited from the former Commission for New Towns and English Partnerships, which are predecessor bodies of Homes England. Many of the Commission for New Towns Land formed part of long term plans for a Central Lancashire New Town.

All local planning authorities are required to produce a Development Plan, also known as a Local Plan, which sets out their vision for their area, including how they will meet their future housing needs. South Ribble Borough Council decides which sites to allocate for residential development through the Local Plan process.

The majority of land comprising the Emnie Lane, Apsley House and Church Lane sites (owned by Homes England) are currently designated as ‘Safeguarded Land for Future Development’ by Policy G3 of the South Ribble Local Plan (July 2015), which the Local Plan states is necessary to meet the borough’s longer term development need. The sites have also now been identified by the Council as proposed residential allocations in the new Central Lancashire Local Plan.

Homes England also own land at Pickering's Farm. Outline planning permission was granted for two applications at The Lanes, also known as Pickering's Farm in 2024. Homes England and Taylor Wimpey have been undertaking community engagement on their Phase 1 Reserved Matters proposals for the Site.