Final approval given for 90 more houses on former ERNIE site in Blackpool

Rowland Homes was granted permission last November by the council’s planning committee to build 90 new homes on Marples Drive, off Preston New Road.

Final approval for the housing has also had to be given by the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government because it is a departure from the council’s local plan which had designated the site for employment use.

But it was decided to develop the land for homes instead after there was no demand from businesses to locate there despite extensive marketing of the site.

Agreements have also been signed for a contribution of around £125,000 to the council for health and open space provision

When they approved the application, councillors expressed concerns the development did not provide enough green space and was over-intensive.

Documents now show a section 106 agreement has been signed which will see just over £99,000 allocated to improving public open spaces at Lawson’s Field on Lawson Road in Marton.

The developer will also contribute nearly £25,000 towards health provision, with the money being used for the refurbishment of the Harris Medical Centre on Mereside.

A mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced homes will be built by Rowland Homes which has already built 115 houses in the first phase of its development of the site.

The famous National Savings tower, which housed ERNIE (the Electronic Random Number Indicating Equipment that selects Premium Bond winners), was demolished by detonation in February 2017 to clear the site for new investment.

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