AN MP has criticised Bolton Council's planning policy following an inspector's controversial approval of a 129-home development in Westhoughton

Bolton West representative Chris Green made the comments after developer Bellway Homes won their appeal for the scheme in Bowlands Hey off Collingwood Way.

Making his decision, planning inspector Hayden Baugh-Jones referred to Bolton Council's lack of a five-year housing land supply, which reportedly stands at just above three years.

The Conservative MP said: "If Cliff Morris (Bolton Council leader) had listened to me and everyone else about our concerns with the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework over a year ago, it wouldn’t have had to be re-written and we would not be in this mess now.

"Because the council can’t show it’s got any realistic plan for house building, the independent inspector has had to allow this completely inappropriate development to go through.

"I said after the council withdrew their objections to the Hill Lane development in Blackrod that they were setting a dangerous precedent and now it looks like this is becoming true.

"Bolton West is steadily becoming a cash cow for Bolton Council without any investment going to us for our congested roads, creaking public transport and over-flowing schools."

Bolton Council's refusal of up to 110 homes in Hill Lane, Blackrod, was overturned last year.

A decision is also due to be made on the appeal concerning Persimmon's plan to build 300 homes at Lee Hall, Westhoughton.

The appeal was also held earlier this year after Bolton Council refused the proposal.