Truck park and housing plotted for West Lancs

Forth Homes is seeking approval for 83 affordable homes on the site of a former poultry farm, while used-vehicle dealer T&T Contracts wants to build an HGV trailer park as part of plans to redevelop 13.5 acres of agricultural land east of Simonswood. 

Outline consent for the trailer park project, south of Stopgate Lane in the village, was granted in 2018. 

Under the plans, the trailer park, covering around 10 acres, would sit alongside a 50,000 sq ft extension to the existing 150,000 sq ft timber storage building operated by transport and logistics firm 3TL. 

A 2,500 sq ft training building for traffic management company Highway Traffic Management is also proposed. 

The planner for the project is Plan 8 Town Planning. Designs were drawn up by Swinton-based architect RA Fisk & Associates. 

Meanwhile, Liverpool-based developer Forth Homes, in collaboration with Adactus Housing Association plans to build 83 affordable homes off Moss Road in Halsall.

The housebuilder will be asked to provide a Section 106 contribution of £121,000 towards secondary education as a condition of consent, according to planning documents submitted ahead of the West Lancashire planning committee meeting on Thursday. 

The 6.6-acre site was formerly a poultry farm used for egg production and is occupied by a collection of timber sheds that would be demolished under the plans. 

The disused hen sheds would be demolished under the plans

The site, known as Fine Jane’s Farm, would be redeveloped to house eight apartments, four bungalows, 21 detached and 50 semi-detached homes, all available on affordable tenures. 

Zerum is the planner for the project. 

Consent for a similar development of 57 houses was granted to Jones Homes in 2016 but the plans were never progressed.

Both schemes have been recommended for approval at the meeting on Thursday.