Outline planning permission for up to 276 new homes in Horwich has been allowed on appeal.
The proposals by Peel L&P and Northstone for homes off Victoria Road, including the site of the former Horwich Golf Club, were approved by the Planning Inspectorate following a public inquiry at the end of June.
The plans include a 276-home development, first submitted in 2019 by Peel L&P, and a smaller development of 150 energy-efficient homes put forward by Peel L&P’s homebuilder Northstone in September 2020, with around a third of homes at each scheme earmarked for affordable housing for shared ownership or affordable rent.
The main issues for both appeals were:
- Whether this would be an acceptable location for housing development, having regards to the spatial strategy in the development plan; and
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to Horwich’s landscape setting.
The landscape team from Pegasus Group’s Leeds office prepared Landscape and Visual impact Assessment (LVIA), landscape masterplan and DAS, and worked closely with council officers to secure support for the 150-dwelling scheme with significant offerings of public open space and ecological and community benefits. But as with the earlier refused 276 dwelling scheme, Councillors refused the scheme on the grounds of impact upon the character and appearance of the area and impact upon Horwich’s setting.
Brian Denney and Frances Horne from Pegasus prepared evidence in respect to both schemes, demonstrating that the considerations of the Inspector in an earlier appeal decision for 300 dwellings had been met.
The Inspector concluded that he was not persuaded by the evidence that either of the proposed developments would have a significantly harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area, including in terms of Horwich’s landscape setting.
For more information about this appeal or any of Pegasus Group’s services, please contact us.