Wyre planners defer application for 130 new homes in Thornton

Developer BXB Thornton is seeking planning permission for the construction of the homes on land off Fleetwood Road North, in an application which it admitted had “not been without its challenges”.

The developer says the overall viability of the scheme had been challenging because of issues of drainage, site levels and biodiversity mitigation on a site which was initially ‘tricky’.

However, BXB Thornton said these had been overcome and last month planning officers recommended the application for approval.

But when the application came before councillors at the latest meeting of Wyre’s planning committee, the matter was deferred.

Councillors heard one contentious factor on the application was that BXB Thornton was seeking the removal of a tree preservation order (TPO) which had been placed on the site by the council earlier this year.

Coun Howard Ballard, vice chairman of the planning committee, successfully proposed that members hold back on a decision to allow further investigations into the removal of the woodland TPO as well as social matters, including the quantity of affordable housing being provided.

The deferment would also allow the case officer to liaise with Lancashire County Council Highways to to see if the scope of works could be extended to include all of Fleetwood Road North and not just up to the junction of Bourne Way.

The proposals are the latest of several housing schemes for Thornton, some of which have been approved while others are still pending.

The application followed a public consultation which led to several revisions, including a reduction in up to ten housing units.

However, there were still seven written objections, with nearby residents raising concerns about the loss of trees, the number of new housing developments in Thornton and road safety issues.

Blackpool North and Cleveleys MP Paul Maynard also raised concerns about Lancashire County Council’s traffic flow data relating to Fleetwood Road North.

Planning consultant Peter Tooher, who is advising the developer, said: “Given society’s emphasis on climate mitigation it makes perfect sense to utilise allocated land within the urban area and technically challenging plots such as this so that we don’t eat into the greenbelt.”

The application will now be determined in 2023.Plans