Huge swathes of the Fylde's open spaces may be saved after it was revealed plans for thousands of new homes are now under review.

Regional housebuilding targets – which would have forced Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre councils to approve 16,000 homes by 2022 – are being abolished by the new coalition Government.

And that means such contentious schemes as 600 homes on Marton Moss, 1,100 on Queensway in St Annes and 7,500 properties on land around the Blackpool end of the M55 could be blocked.

"This is a total revolution in the way we look at things and a massive number of future homes could be affected," Blackpool Council leader Peter Callow today announced.

"We will re-appraise our whole housing strategy. This will affect everything from Marton Moss to the M55 hub, both of which we will have to review.

"It may mean we can now look at steering developments towards inner (town) areas, helping with regeneration, rather than building on our last remaining areas of green space."

Blackpool Council voted in support of plans by Kensington Developments to build homes on The Moss, with many in the authority saying they were powerless to argue against large planning applications, given such stringent regional targets.

The Government Office North West will rule on The Moss decision soon.

FOR THE FULL STORY SEE MONDAY'S GAZETTE.