Concerns raised about number of approved housing schemes

Concerns have been raised about the number of new housing developments being given the go-ahead by Wyre Council.

Concerns have been raised about the number of new housing developments being given the go-ahead by Wyre Council.

A number of applications for house-building projects have been successful in Thornton, Poulton and Over Wyre despite some objections being lodged.

Opponents have argued that some of the areas in which the new homes have been approved do not have sufficient infrastructure to support so many new occupants.

There are concerns that the developments will put unwanted pressure on places within local schools and GP surgeries, in addition to the added burden on already congested road networks and fears over flooding.

When the issue was raised at Wyre’s recent full council meeting (Thursday, March 8), Preesall member Coun Collette Rushforth, leader of the Wyre Independent Group, said the amount of house building in parts of the borough was becoming excessive.

She said the New Homes Bonus scheme, a grant paid to all English authorities in recognition of net additions to effective housing stock in their area, was proving to be a worryingly attractive offer for the council.

Coun Rushforth said: “Wyre received £981,858 from the New Homes Bonus scheme in the latest financial year.

“That is quite a strong incentive to encourage housing development.

“House building is getting out of hand in Wyre as there is insufficient infrastructure to support it.

“Some of the applications are being approved in areas where there are genuine concerns about flooding issues.”

Coun Rob Fail, leader of Wyre’s Labour group, said the council was relying too heavily on plugging gaps in borough finances by using the money it gained from the scheme to bolster its finances.

He said: “The Homes Bonus Scheme is being used to plug gaps rather than improve the infrastructure to accommodate new housing, which is what it is intended for,

“It is classic carrot and stick approach.”

Coun Michael Vincent, leader of the Conservative-led council, said: “I agree there is too much development. It’s not us. Our hands are tied by national policy.

“If they (Labour) were in power they would say “build more houses.”

A number of sizeable housing schemes have been approved in Thornton, Poulton and Preesall.

Developments include new estates in Thornton – BXB Homes with 130 homes approved for Bourne area in July 2023, Eccleston Homes with 158 homes in for Bourne area in June 2023, Breck Homes with 81 homes in Bourne area in September 2023 and Baxter Homes with 40 homes approved in Little Thornton in January 2024 as part of a larger development.

Similarly, in Poulton, plans for 102 affordable homes off Holts Lane were controversially approved in December 2020; more than 500 homes have been consented for on land off Garstang Road East, in a joint scheme from Jones Homes and Persimmon Homes.

MCI Developments, a Keepmoat subsidiary, has partnered with housing provider Jigsaw Homes Group to deliver 106 affordable homes.

The 9.56-acre site in Poulton, sits south of Brockholes Crescent and will provide the area with a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes through affordable rent and rent-to-buy schemes.

Last October, it was announced that work would start on 106 affordable homes on land south of Brockholes Crescent, in a scheme from MCI Developments, a Keepmoat subsidiary, partnering with housing provider Jigsaw Homes Group.

However, there is a requirement to allow for the provision of new housing in the borough under the Wyre Local Plan (2011-2031), which was adopted in February 2019 and identified the objectively assessed need (OAN) for housing to be 479 net dwellings per annum, equating to 9,580 net dwellings over the plan period 2011-2031.