Controversial plans for 345 homes in Warton and Freckleton are passed by Fylde Council

A controversial housing estate has been approved between two Fylde villages for 345 homes despite being met with opposition.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Countryside Properties submitted plans early last year for the housing estate off Lytham Road, located between Warton and Freckleton.

And now the developer, based in Brentwood, Essex, has been given the green light by Fylde Council to build on the site, which lies to the north east and east of Warton and extends to around 12.7 hectares of agricultural land.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The site has been of interest for developers for a number of years and plans were first submitted in 2014 for 375 homes by Warton East Developments Ltd. This was contested due to concerns over highway improvements at the junction of Church Road, Lytham Road and Highgate Lane.

How the 345-home estate will look near Warton and FreckletonHow the 345-home estate will look near Warton and Freckleton
How the 345-home estate will look near Warton and Freckleton

Since Countryside Properties submitted its plans for the 345 homes, which also include a further 14 dwellings being sought via a separate full application, they have been met with opposition along the way, mainly due to concerns over flooding in the area.

Despite initially opposing the proposals, the Environment Agency said after viewing the revised flood risk, it was 'satisfied' with the development.

It said: "We have reviewed the above revised flood risk assessment and supporting reports, insofar to the application.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The proposed development must proceed in strict accordance with the above documents and the mitigation measures identified as it will form part of any subsequent planning approval as it relates to our remit, and we are now satisfied that the development would be safe without exacerbating flood risk elsewhere, if the proposed flood risk mitigation measures are implemented. As such, we withdraw our objection."

Despite the support of the Environmental Agency, the plans were still opposed by Freckleton Parish Council due to concerns over flooding outside the development in Freckleton.

In its letter to council planning officers, it said: "Whilst the Flood Risk Assessment modelling has been updated to answer the EA objections, the report confirms that it is still a prediction based on assumptions."

It added: "Whilst security of the planning site from flood risk appears assured, the information within the report and technical note does imply that there is an increase in the flood area at risk outside of the site, to the east of the pool stream, i.e. in Freckleton."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Warton Parish Council also opposed the housing estate and recommended that it should be refused.

It said: "While the Parish Council are thankful to Fylde Borough Council Planning Authority for this opportunity to express its views on the proposed updated revisions of this application it cannot help but voice the shear frustration that again no effort has been made toward actually engaging in consultation directly with the Parish Council, or indeed the local community, contrary to the intent and best practise proposed by the National Planning Policy Framework.

It added: "Significantly its continued design failure to acknowledge the principles of the Bryning with Warton Neighbourhood Development plan which is a key planning policy, or so we were led to believe, in layout and landscaping.

"More alarmingly some of these revisions, particularly in light of recent surface water flooding issues experienced by residents in neighbouring areas to the proposed site, would seem to have a consequence that if the proposals were to be permitted would have such disastrous consequences on those neighbouring properties making them inhabitable."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Even though Lancashire County Council's Highways Development Control had no objections to the plans, it did say access for vehicles such as fire engines and bin lorries should be considered.

In its decision, it said: "Highways do not have any objections to the proposed 350 dwellings and are of the opinion the development will not have a significant impact on highway safety capacity in the immediate vicinity of the site.

"With this said, the planning department is advised to consider the impact on highway amenity for emergency and refuse vehicle access and any future development to the north of the site, as detailed in this report."