Poulton bungalow development refused by planners over lack of affordable housing

Applethwaite Homes was applying for full planning permission to build the homes for people aged 55 and over.

But councillors on the planning committee rejected the scheme on the grounds that Applethwaite was unable to make 30 per cent of the properties affordable homes.

Applethwaite argued that to make such a pledge would have made the scheme, earmarked for land off Blackpool Road financially unviable.

Although the developer did make a late amendment by offering to make a financial; contribution towards health care and highway infrastructure, it wasn’t enough to win approval for the proposals.

Chris Young, a planning agent on behalf of Applethwaite, told councillors there was a greater need than ever for bungalows because there was an ageing population, yet fewer were being built because they made less money than houses, so bungalow developers were less able to provide affordable housing.

But Coun Peter le Marinel, leading the objections, said: “Wyre has a shortfall of affordable housing so it is unacceptable that a developer wants to come forward with a proposal such as this.

“This area has a lot of bungalows so to build some more might be a great idea but it’s not as though there aren’t any.

“We desperately need affordable housing in this area and there’s no way I would vote for something that doesn’t have it.”

Councillors overwhelmingly rejected the application, which had also been recommended for refusal by planning officers.

The Applethwaite project was designed for people aged 55 and over and comprises six one- bed units, 26 two-bed units and 10 three- bed units of varying design.

The application was one of three separate developments being proposed by different applicants for neighbouring parts of the site off Blackpool Road , which together would have amounted to almost 257 homes in total.

Story Homes’ application to build 197 houses has already been approved, while proposals by Baxter Homes to build 35 homes on neighbouring plots on the site has yet to be determined.

The schemes are all contained within land accepted as part of Wyre’s Local Plan, but residents have raised concerns that extra large scale housing would lead to congestion and road safety problems and blur the boundary between Poulton and Carleton.

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