COUNCILLORS will decide tomorrow whether plans to build more than 50 houses on a former Harwood school site should get the go ahead.

Bolton Council’s planning committee will analyse proposals to create 56 new homes on the former Longsight Primary School site in Hough Fold Way, submitted by developers PSP Bolton LLP.

The school was closed in 2002 — demolished in 2009 — and the brownfield state has been vacant ever since.

If approved, the development would include car parking space, a children’s play area and a pond.

The development would consist mainly of three-bedroom semi-detached properties, but would include some smaller two-bedroom townhouses as well as larger four-bed family homes.

The existing access to the site will be retained and each house would also have off-road parking.

The proposed play area and pond would be based in the bottom right-hand corner of the development.

The developers said the 'balancing' pond would assist with the potential flooding risk from surface water collections and would also offer an area of habitat for local wildlife.

Some residents have objected to the plans based on issues including increased traffic, pressure on local school places and the proximity of the development to other houses.

Bradshaw councillor Walter Hall has also registered an objection, with specific concerns about the planned pond and play area.

He said: “I think the scheme in general is ok — it is only 56 houses and I think most people would find that acceptable.

“My issues are with the pond — which I think could be potentially dangerous for children playing on the proposed playground, which I also think there is no need for.

“We already have a children’s playground just up the road in Longsight Lane and if they removed those two elements, they could potentially get a few more houses in.”

PSP Bolton LLP has been behind a number of major projects in Bolton and is a described as a 'unique partnership model' that works with councils to 'unlock the value of council property estates through private investment.'

Speaking about the housing scheme, a spokesman for the developer said: “The proposed housing mix is likely to have a positive impact on social integration within the scheme and will help to create a pleasant, but affordable place to live.

“The homes in the local area are simple, un-fussy, brick-built buildings with pitched concrete tiled roofs, white framed windows and some white rendered sections — the homes on this site will be in a similar simple style and construction to fit in well with this local character.”