Preston’s double rejection of 51 Broughton homes overturned

Hollins Strategic Land has been victorious in its mission to secure outline planning permission to construct a mini neighbourhood on open countryside off Garstang Road.

The Planning Inspectorate sided in favour of the company, opposing Preston City Council’s objections to developing on the six-acre site. The main point of contention had been the site’s location on open countryside, with the council citing the impact on the open countryside in its refusal of the application in both January 2023 and April 2023.

The inspector agreed that while the site was countryside, building on it would not have an adverse impact on the area’s landscape. That is because the site borders the 97-home Bank Hall Barn site.

The inspector did note, however, that Preston has a healthy supply of land for housing. Despite this, the plan would “supplement the range and choice in the pipeline supply,” they wrote.

“Dwellings which would be capable of addressing a wide range of recently identified housing needs would be secured through planning obligations and planning conditions,” the inspector continued, citing the inclusion of a rate of 20 affordable homes and five homes dedicated to those over the age of 55. Of the 51 homes proposed, two would be wheelchair accessible.

The positive outcome for Hollins Strategic Land followed the work of NJL Consulting, which had overseen the planning process for the company. Sedgewick Associates was behind the application’s design and access statement.

In addition to NJL and Sedgewick, the project team included Kathryn Sather and Associates, Enzygo, and ERAP.

You can see the outline application’s documents by searching reference number 06/2023/0030 on Preston City Council’s planning portal. For the appeal papers, use reference number APP/N2345/W/23/3330709 on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.