Gladman tries again with 95-home Preston scheme

Outline proposals for land off Garstang Road, Broughton have been lodged by the land promoter, six years on from being refused consent at the site.

Broadly semi-circular, the 10.8-acre site is made up of a single agricultural field, enclosed by the A6 James Towers Way and Garstang Road around three sides, with existing housing making up the southern boundary.

Public open space including a play area is part of the plan, on which Randall Thorp leads the advisory team.

Pegasus Group, LDE, e3p and Eddisons are also on the team.

Gladman was refused consent for up to 95 homes at the site in April 2019, despite Preston’s inability to demonstrate a five-year supply – the site was deemed non-compliant with the Central Lancashire core strategy, Preston’s local plan and the Broughton neighbourhood plan.

It was the recent emergence of the last of these that had proved critical, Gladman’s planning statement for the new application stated, with the council concluding that the impact would outweigh the scheme’s benefits.

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However, Gladman points out now, no technical or site-specific issues had been raised, and no objections made from statutory consultees.

Since that refusal, said Gladman, “planning circumstances have materially changed”. The firm proposes that 35% of homes would be affordable, in line with Central Lancs guidelines. Gladman’s intention is that the site be accessed from a single point on Garstang Road.

Preston’s housing supply situation has been a matter of constant back-and-forth in recent years, with decisions once thought to be set in stone reversed as situations shifted. The council is at present confident it can demonstrate a supply pipeline of more than five years, yet will remain mindful of the government’s drive to boost housebuilding.

Some developers have secured favourable verdicts, others continue to struggle – Gladman, which has operated under the ownership of Barratt since early 2022, was itself knocked back earlier this month with a reworked 125-home plan in Goosnargh.

Gladman’s plans for the Broughton site can be viewed on Preston’s planning portal with the reference 06/2025/0868.