DOZENS of residents attended a public consultation to show their opposition to a planning application.

The inquiry, at Leigh Sports Village, was called after the application to build up to 100 houses on land the south of Bee Fold Lane in Atherton was unanimously rejected by Wigan Council's planning committee.

In a move that came as a shock to the residents, the council withdrew its evidence opposing the application saying it could not make representations to the inquiry as it was unable to meet the five-year housing supply it is required to by Government.

The planning inspector, chartered town planner Richard Schofield, heard from several parties opposed to the plan including Leigh MP Andy Burnham and Cllr Stephen Hellier as well as community groups ASPECT and FAWN.

Mr Burnham told the inquiry: "I have seen no evidence to suggest that to justify any change to the core strategy. If this application was to be allowed it seems to me to unpick that broad agreement that was reached at great public expense and after a long public consultation."

Phil Tucker QC, who was representing the developers Tarleton Estates and Seddon Homes, said that inspector had written into the core strategy that safeguarded lane could be bought forward if the council was unable at any point to meet its obligation for a five-year housing plan.

In figures provided by the council, the borough requires 8,294 houses in the next five-years but as of April 1, 2014, there were only plans for 6,670, or four years worth of housing.

All parties agreed that the council was likely to be able to meet the 15-year supply set out in the core strategy without building on the land but unforeseen delays had led to a short full in the short term.

Mr Tucker said: "The core strategy was founded on the premise that safeguarded land may be needed if the five-year supply dips below five."

ASPECT raised issues including the stability of the land and what the developers intended to do about a high pressure gas pipeline that runs through the site.

After a break, Mr Tucker conceded that they would need more time to address the issue of the pipeline as the council had just informed them the appeal site lay within the Health and Safety Executives consultation zone.

Mr Schofield accepted the offer to try and deal with the issue in writing and adjourned the inquiry until June.