Developer cuts number of new homes planned

A developer is proposing to reduce the number of homes it is building on part of Marton Moss in a move which will increase the amount of green space which is retained.
Kensington Developments is building houses on land off Moss House Road in MartonKensington Developments is building houses on land off Moss House Road in Marton
Kensington Developments is building houses on land off Moss House Road in Marton

Kensington Developments has planning permission to build 579 houses on land off Moss House Road but wants to cut the number back to 422.

The builder says the move is in response to current market conditions but a chunk of the site to the north east, behind Midgeland Road and Florence Street has also been hived off by United Utilities for its drainage works.

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When the scheme was originally approved, campaigners protested at the loss of open space.

Today they welcomed less intense development.

Angelia Hinds, of the Save the Moss campaign, said: “We always said drainage was an issue on this land, and it looks like the developer has now realised that.

“This application includes more water retention basins and there will be more green space to soak up any water.

“There is a bit more land which is not being built on.

“But I think the council should wait until everyone has their comments in and put the application before the full planning committee.”

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Work has already begun on the site which will be accessed from Progress Way.

Kensington paid £500,000 to the council towards a new junction controlled by traffic lights which has been put in.

The revised plans propose 104 two-bedroomed homes, 190 with three bedrooms, 126 with four bedrooms and two with five bedrooms .

Three additional areas of open space will be provided.

The largest of these would form a village green including a pond, play area and landscaping between Moss House Road and the northern stretch of the main estate road.

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Blackpool Council’s planning committee is being recommended to agree the application in principle and delegate the final decision to the head of development management, when it meets on Tuesday.

In their report to the committee, planners say the new scheme “is better from a residential amenity point of view, drainage point of view, traffic generation point of view and would balance making best use of the land with the character and appearance of the area.”

They add: “The applicant has sought to create a distinctive housing estate characterised by a sustainable urban drainage system and associated landscape features.

“The properties would vary in design and materials to create discernible neighbourhood areas.

The proposal includes areas of public open space and a carefully considered planting and biodiversity enhancement plan.”

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