Path clear for 200 thrice-deferred Burnley homes
Riverside Group’s development arm has been awarded planning permission to create a neighbourhood on Hollin Cross Farm – nearly 21 months after it first applied.
The decision to grant planning permission was given by the Planning Inspectorate after Prospect Homes appealed over Burnley Council’s non-determination of its application.
Prospect Homes submitted its plans for 200 homes on the 21-acre site off Woodplumpton Road in Burnley in March 2022, after having sought and acted on pre-application advice in January 2020.
The application went before the council four times, each time recommended for approval. It was voted to be deferred the first, second, and fourth time it went before the council.
On the third time, the development control committee sought to reject the application but the council’s head of planning intervened and referred the application to the full council – which eventually led to the third deferment. Issues continuously centred over perceived flood risks and ecological concerns.
During the appeal process, the Burnley Council did not present evidence. Instead, it worked with Prospect Homes’ team, which included planning consultant Savills, and acknowledged that the providing of additional information and explanation had resolved the council’s concerns.
Prospect Homes’ plans for the site include a mixture of two- and four-bedroom homes, of which 20 would be available as either shared ownership or affordable rent. All of the houses would have solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.
The application also includes two areas of play and nearly five acres of public open space.
As part of the approval, Prospect Homes committed to investing £1.2m in education, public open space, highway improvements, and biodiversity in Burnley.
Michael Orgill, managing director at Prospect Homes, was pleased with the planning outcome.
“This is a huge accomplishment for Prospect Homes and we are now looking forward to starting on site in May 2024 and subsequently launching sales,” he said. “This development will be a great place to live with high-quality homes and green, open space and all with great connectivity to the wider area.”
Woodcroft Design drew up the designs for the scheme, with Golby + Luck Landscape Architects assisting. Project team members also included REFA Consulting Engineers, RSK, Salford Archaeology, Croft, Element Sustainability, Miller Goodall, BWB, Biora, and The Environment Partnership.
You can learn more about the project by searching application reference number FUL/2022/0149 on Burnley Council’s planning portal.
Elsewhere in the North West, Prospect Homes is lined up to deliver 121 homes in South Ribble, 99 homes in Widnes and 54 homes in Burscough.
