Developer in appeal after flood refusal

The land where 86 homes could be built, if Lovell is successful in its appeal against the councils original planning decision

Lovell Partnerships was refused planning permission in January for the scheme to build 86 homes on land at Warren Drive, Norbreck.

The scheme would mean the loss of nearly eight acres of open land.

Now Lovell is challenging the decision and a public inquiry could be held in front of an independent planning inspector.

The move has dismayed ward councillors who say residents already live in fear of flooding which would be made worse by building more homes.

Norbreck councillor Maxine Callow said: “We’re devastated an appeal has been lodged because the planning committee refused this application unanimously in January.

“The residents put up a good fight and they will continue to fight against this application.

“The committee heard some of the horror stories from residents who have been affected by flooding.”

People living in the area had most recently suffered flooding in their homes and gardens during heavy rainfall last November.

The application had been recommended for approval by planning officers who said it would help Blackpool meet its house-building target, set by government, of 4,200 homes by 2027.

Lovell, which is already building homes on the site of the former Queens Park high rise flats in Layton, had proposed to raise the level of the land around the perimeter of the site to create a plateau which it said would protect the new houses from the risk of flooding.

It said talks had been held with United Utilites and the Environment Agency, neither of whom had objected and “the scheme does not increase run off in any way.”

The site has been at the centre of several planning battles in recent years.

In 2008, a bid to create a town green on land between Warren Drive, Deerhurst Road and All Saints Road failed.

Asda, which owns the land, was granted permission in 2004 to build offices but never went ahead with the project.

Dismay voiced

Coun Maxine Callow said she was ‘devastated’ the appeal has been lodged by Lovell Partnerships.

She said: “Residents put up a good fight”, and will continue to oppose the bid.