Controversial Poulton housing scheme deferred again for minister’s input

This time the application to build homes on land south of Blackpool Road has been deferred to allow the Secretary of State for Housing to look at the plans, after they were deemed to be of ‘strategic significance’.

Members considered refusing the application outright but instead voted to allow the Secretary of State to provide input on how the matter will proceed.

The minister’s involvement, following a letter presented to the committee, came as a new surprise twist in proceedings in a project which is proving contentious for a number of reasons.,

The application was submitted by De Pol Associates on behalf of land owner Blackpool Council, which has been granted £3.15 million from the Government to unlock a number of sites for housing.

It has been recommended for approval by Wyre’s planning officer.

But controversially the land in question is not included in Wyre’s 2019 Local Plan for new housing allocation, leading to fears that Wyre could become a free-for all for any developer wanting to build in the borough.

There are also concerns about the scheme adding to already existing traffic congestion and road safety issues, especially as there are other plans by different developers to build up to 300 homes on neighbouring land.

The application had already been deferred at a previous planning meeting on December 2 to allow the applicants time to provide additional details on traffic mitigation measures.

But councillors opposing the plans told the meeting this additional information had not been provided in the follow-up report,

Coun Lesley McKay, a ward councillor for Poulton’s Tithebarn ward, said: “This report is merely a summary of the other report provided at the previous meeting. No other work has been prepared.

“The fact that no further evidence has been provided is insulting to planning members as well as residents. We are being treated with contempt. This application is being pushed through and that cannot be allowed.”

Poulton county councillor Alf Clempson said he was making an official complaint as a result of the way Wyre’s own planning officer had recommended the application and presented it at the December 2 meeting.

He said Wyre’s Local Plan was being blatantly flouted, and added: “This says you can come to Wyre and have a free for all, you can build where you want.

“I am writing to complain to the chief executive of Wyre Council, to the head of highways at Lancashire County Council and to the housing minister.”

He said the applicants had provided inadequate traffic data in support of their plans.

Wyre MP Ben Wallace also sent a letter to be read out at the meeting, outlining his opposition to the plans.

But Alexis De Pol, for the applicants, said all the necessary data requested by Lancashire County Council’s highways had been provided and he argued that the application did not conflict with the Local Plan.

After the meeting a Blackpool Council spokesman said: “We await further details of the deferment so we can address these with De Pol.”

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