Plans for more than 200 new homes in Poulton raise traffic fears

Plans for more than 200 homes in Poulton will benefit the local area, say developers – but objectors disagree.

Wain Homes are looking to build the estate on a 27-acre plot close to two schools in the town, Breck Primary and Brookfield School.

A planning application was lodged with Wyre Council earlier this year to build 208 homes on the land south of Fouldrey Avenue, off the northern end of Breck Road.

The proposals are for the building of 208 residential units with parking and internal access roads, open space, landscaping, ground works and all other associated works. It also includes amendments to an existing dwelling and provision of a school parking area following demolition of existing buildings.

Complying with the council’s policy standards, 30 percent of the units would be provided as affordable housing in a number of tenures, ranging from one bedroom flats to five-bedroom houses.

Some 24 of these apartments will be only for those aged over 55 whilst an existing residential dwelling on the site (located to the west of the main buildings area) would be retained and refurbished.

A planning statement in support of the application points to the benefits of the scheme being on a brownfield site, increasing the local housing supply while retaining lpcal i nfrastructure.

But objectors fear the development would exacerbate existing congestion on the nearby A585, from the Norcross roundabout eastwards.

One objector, Thornton resident Mark Owens, said: “ I wish to object to the above proposal, on the grounds of traffic congestion, at the newly upgraded River Wyre junction.

“ Circa £170M has been spent by National Highways (NH) on a new Norcross junction and bypass, as upgrades to improve this troubled road.

“These upgrades are underperforming; they were meant to eliminate congestion at peak times; they haven’t, and they don’t.

“ In short, the new upgrades cannot deal with the traffic from the local plan as is, let alone additional housing outside the plan. Moving a problem along with spectacular results is no solution, its a waste of taxpayers money and an affront. “

Another objection cited flooding, highways and safety and a view that Poulton had already exceeded its quot of new housing.

However, a planning statement concludes: “The existing brownfield site will be transformed into a contextually responsive, residential development that opens up this land. This will allow for this area to become accessible and permeable, connecting surrounding communities through high quality place-making.

“This development will contribute to the need for high quality housing in the borough, particularly the need for affordable housing, with the affordable provision of this scheme at 30 percent.

“There is also potential for over 55’s accommodation within the apartments to the North.

“Overall, it has been demonstrated through this statement that the design of the proposed residential development is acceptable in respect of access, appearance, layout, scale and landscaping, constituting to a high quality, sustainable development. “!

In addition to the 208-home residential development, an area of school parking has also been proposed, offering provision for Brookfield School and The Breck Primary School, which are to the north of the site.

The development will also include the provision of more than 10 acres of greenspace,

The proposed site currently hosts food distributor Dawndew Salads, which is relocating to another site.

Poulton-le-Fylde has seen significant new home development in recent years, with hundreds of new properties built or given the green light by developers like Story Homes, Bellway Homes, and Persimmon homes, including large-scale schemes of 300 homes approved in 2024.

Other developments include 106 affordable homes near Brockholes Crescent and a site at Moorfield Park, contributing to the town’s expanding housing landscape.