Unanimous refusal for Peel in Bolton

Going against officer recommendation, Bolton’s planning committee has voted as one to refuse planning permission for the developer’s outline application covering up to 300 homes at Horwich Golf Club.

Peel, which owns the site, was looking to gain an outline consent for housing on what is a steeply sloping site, adding in two plots to the north and east in a scheme for which landscape architect Randall Thorp provided an indicative layout.

The site in total extends to 45.5 acres and borders Jones Homes’ Rivington Grange development, a 130-home scheme that is currently on site.

Although not on the scale of the opposition to Peel’s plans for a Ryder Cup-standard golf course resort, conference centre and around 1,000 homes at Hulton Park, approved by Bolton in March, the plans attracted some opposition locally due to the loss of open land.

Planning officers had recommended approval on the basis that the scheme is in line with the local authority’s development principles, while Peel noted in its application that the borough cannot demonstrate a five-year housing supply, a fact repeated in the planning officers’ report to committee.

Officers also reported that the applicant had said it would provide in full the contributions necessary to allow development, namely an affordable housing provision of 34%, a £375,000 contribution to off site open space at Old Station Park, and £869,000 towards primary education places, along with a healthcare contribution should it be proved necessary.

Peel and Emery have been approached for comment.