Kirkham residential consultation underway
Story Homes and Hollins Strategic Land are in discussions with stakeholders and residents before they submit a reserved matters planning application later in autumn for 170 homes.
The Kirkham development, on Brook Farm, is proposing homes of between one and five bedrooms, with 30% marketed as affordable on the 32-acre site. The smallest property will be 545 sq ft, and the largest will be 1,900 sq ft, with the development totalling 273,000 sq ft.
The original application was submitted in 2015 by Bolton-based agent Sedgwick Associates, on behalf of Hollins, and an appeal was lodged in February 2016 because the council had failed to give notice of its decision.
An inquiry was requested by Hollins, where planning manager Matthew Symons said that “the main issue for this appeal is landscape and visual impact”. He added that the council’s disagreement with the development was the “effect upon the landscape character and views toward the site”, and “whether the impact on the landscape significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of the proposal”.
After months of additional environmental assessments, outline planning permission was granted in August this year.
As part of the development, Story Homes will contribute over £1m for the provision of local school places, £15,000 towards pedestrian and cycle improvements at Kirkham and Wesham train station and £170,000 towards public transport improvements in the area.
Story Homes’ development planner Martin Nugent said: “The consultation is an opportunity for the residents of Dowbridge to comment and provide feedback on our plans. We believe that our product is appropriate for this site due to the high quality of our houses and also our dedication to building developments which complement the local area through thoughtful planning and design.”
If planning is approved, Story Homes said work will begin in spring 2018, with an estimated date of completion in 2023.
