Plans to extend a housing estate in a Chorley village have been put on hold, with councillors voicing serious concerns about the area's capacity to absorb more residents.
Committee Votes for Site Visit
Members of Chorley Council's planning committee have unanimously voted to visit the location in Charnock Richard before deciding on an application for 57 new socially-rented homes. The proposal, submitted by Westchurch Homes, seeks to build on land off Charter Lane, adjacent to a 76-home affordable development the same builder is completing.
This marks the second time plans for this site have sparked controversy. The initial 76-dwelling scheme was rejected by the committee in 2022 over road safety and a lack of local services, only to be approved on appeal by a planning inspector the following year.
Residents Warn of 'Groundhog Day'
Addressing the committee, Colette Jolly of the Charnock Richard Residents' Association said the community felt it was reliving the same battle. She argued that fundamental issues of infrastructure remained unresolved and were now more severe.
"Adding 57 more homes is simply over-development of a small village already struggling with inadequate infrastructure, worsening flooding since phase 1 and still no genuine transport options or basic amenities," Ms Jolly stated.
Committee member Councillor Alan Whittaker strongly echoed these concerns. He highlighted that the combined 133 homes from both phases would increase the number of properties in the parish by 15 percent.
"There is not one shop in Charnock Richard – where are these people going to go?" Cllr Whittaker asked, adding that the proposal contradicted council policy which designates the village for only "small-scale" development.
Developer's Response and Planning Pressure
Oliver Chan, partnerships director for Westchurch Homes, told the committee the firm had listened to local concerns and adjusted the design and mix of dwellings. He emphasised that the social housing scheme would be accessible to more people than the earlier 'affordable' homes.
"Our homes are...the opposite of the stereotypical council housing – we build homes which people want to live in," Mr Chan said.
However, the council faces a significant planning constraint. As with the first application, Chorley Council cannot demonstrate a sufficient supply of land for new housing. This often obliges the authority to approve developments it might otherwise refuse.
While the overall site is set to be allocated for housing in the forthcoming Central Lancashire Local Plan, that document has not yet been formally adopted. Cllr Whittaker conceded that while he would have preferred to refuse the application outright, he supported the site visit as a compromise. The committee will reconsider the application in the new year following their visit.
