Sparkle set for consent on greyhound track site

Indigo Planning has submitted an application on behalf of Sparkle Developments for 50 houses on the site of a former greyhound racing stadium in Westhoughton.

The application, which has been recommended for approval by officers, will be heard by Bolton’s planning committee this week, and represents a revised application following a planning consent granted in June 2017 for 50 units, in a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached homes.

Sparkle now proposes a different layout and housing mix that will reduce the development footprint across the site. Architect DGL Associates is working on the project.

Of the original proposals, 30 houses were to be detached, 11 of them five-bedroom. The revised scheme includes 33 three-bedroom houses and 17 four-bedroom. Although 35 of the dwellings will be detached, the overall scale of development has been reduced by around 14%.

The site lies between Hindley and Westhoughton, with the built-up centre of Hindley 170m to the west and is already served by local buses.

The committee report for the approved scheme concluded that whilst the site would reduce the openness of the Green Belt, very special circumstances exist, which remain, namely that the proposal will regenerate a site which, in its current form, is harmful to the overall character of the area.

The track closed in 2012, and buildings relating to its former use have been demolished.

Indigo’s planning statement concluded: “This revised scheme will bring forward a high quality, residential development sited in a sustainable location. It will also assist in meeting the borough’s required housing needs.

“The proposed development represents sustainable development in that it clearly accords with the three key elements of sustainable development; economic, social and environmental.”