Wyre Council launches public consultation for Thornton housing development change

An amendment submitted by developer Baxter Homes would see an additional access to its site from Raikes Road, to create an extra pedestrian and cyclist connection.

Some 400 homes have been earmarked for land off Lambs Road and Raikes Road as part of Wyre Council's Local Plan, 157 of which are currently under construction by Wainhomes as phase one of the development.

Wainhomes will also oversee phases two, three A and three B of the development, with phase three C - between 30 and 40 new homes - controlled by Baxter Homes.

An initial public consultation on a draft masterplan for the Lambs Road development, in which all vehicle access to the development would be from Lambs Road, was carried out over a six week period from September 25 to November 5 last year.

But Holliss Vincent, Baxter Homes' planning consultants, said the firm felt the draft masterplan "failed to explicitly incorporate mechanisms to deliver connectivity between various phases for pedestrians and cyclists."

As a result, the new amendment brought forward by Baxter Homes - a proposed new access on Raikes Road - was "intended to support limited residential development of between 30 and 40 dwellings" on its land, and "will not provide vehicular linkage to any other phases in the wider allocation."

A new south-westerly safe pedestrian route was also proposed between the allocated land to Woodhouse Road, in a bid to provide a safe pedestrian route to the bus stops at the junction of Tarn Road and Skippool Road.

Wyre councillor Callum Baxter, director of Sales and Marketing at Baxter Homes, confirmed he would not be involved in the planning process for the development throughout any of its stages.

"I'm not part of the planning committee, and my main role at Baxter Homes is the sale of the houses, I don't get involved with anything at all before then," Coun Baxter said.

"Wyre Council has plans in place to ensure there are no conflicts of interest and I don't have anything to do with the planning process for any of Baxter Homes' developments.

"I can't even join or view any planning meetings that take place."

Members of the public are invited to submit their views on the new amendment proposal until March 19.

To have your say on the new proposals, click here to visit Wyre Council's website.