Decision made on controversial plans for 208 new houses in Poulton

A housing scheme which would have seen more than 200 homes built in Poulton has been refused by planners.

Wain Homes were looking to build the 208-strong estate on a 27-acre plot close to two schools in the town, Breck Primary and Brookfield School.

The planning application was lodged with Wyre Council earlier this year to build the houses, 30 per cent of which were affordable homes, on land south of Fouldrey Avenue, off the northern end of Breck Road.

As well as the residential units, the scheme included parking provision and internal access roads, open space, landscaping, ground works and all other associated works.

However. the proposals proved controversial, with 168 letters of objection lodged with Wyre’s planner.

Now the application, dealt with by a planning officer without going to committee, has been refused for a raft of reasons.

The planning case officer listed seven reasons for the application’s refusal:

*The scheme was contrary to planning policy as it was located partly within an area designated as Countryside in the Wyre Local Plan.

*The proposals, which include three storey apartment blocks, would be unsympathetic to the appearance and layout of surrounding development.

*The proposed layout comprises of some of the dwellings and facing windows being within close proximity. As a consequence this would result in an unacceptable level of reduced privacy for future occupiers.

*Insufficient information was provided for complete and proper assessment of the impacts of the scheme on highways safety, both along Fouldrey Avenue and upon the wider strategic highway network.

*Flooding concerns were identified as the application did not demonstrate an acceptable drainage solution and the submitted Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) did not show that the development would be safe for the lifetime of the development without increasing flood risk elsewhere.

*The application would result in the removal of a woodland grouping of trees currently protected by Tree Preservation Order (TPO). The woodland offers ecological benefit and good amenity value, particularly for users of the adjacent footpath, given the number of established trees.

*The scheme proposes a disproportionately high number of large units, including 4 and 5 bed units. This would result in a reduced provision of smaller units, for which there is an identified need in this area.

A planning statement from agents Maybern Planning and Development, in support of the application, concluded: “Overall, it has been demonstrated from this statement that the design of the proposed residential development is acceptable in respect of access, appearance, layout, scale and landscaping, constituting to a high quality, sustainable development. “

However, the planning officer did not agree.