Pickerings Farm is allocated for housing, although the council objected to Taylor Wimpey's and Homes England's plan for part of the site. Credit: via planning documents

Pickering’s Farm 1,100-home verdict pushed back

22 September 2023 09:16 Neil Tague Comments (0)

More than a year after a public inquiry was held, Taylor Wimpey and Homes England must wait until mid-November before finding out if their plans for a site near Penwortham, Lancashire will triumph at appeal.

South Ribble Council twice refused the plans from the housebuilding giant and the national housing agency, unanimously rejecting the proposals in November 2021. Councillors cited concerns over traffic, air quality, infrastructure, and sports facilities.

A public inquiry was held in August 2022. A verdict had been promised this month, but the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has now said more time is needed to consider the project.

Taylor Wimpey’s scheme is billed as The Lanes and was proposed across two outline applications.

The first of the outline applications in question seeks permission to build up to 920 homes, a two-form entry primary school and a facility for retail and offices.

The second is for 180 homes. Together, these projects are set on nearly 130 acres of farmland and offer more than 15 acres of green space and playgrounds.

Avison Young is the planning consultant for the project, which was designed by 5plus Architects. Xanthe Quayle is the landscape architect and Vectos the transport advisor.

The Penwortham site, off the A582, is allocated as one of the borough’s four major sites for development, along with Cuerden, land at Farington Moss and the Leyland test track site.