A DEVELOPER says it is committed to delivering ‘high quality’ housing in Bolton.

Jones Homes has responded to complaints that large housebuilders are land-banking key development sites in Bolton, exacerbating the borough’s housing crisis and putting more protected land at risk.

Last week, Bolton Council identified Roscoe’s Farm in Westhoughton as one major site where planning permission has been granted for 106 homes last year but where no development work has started.

Jones Homes says it has no influence over that development, but is progressing with work on sites including the Last Drop Village in Bromley Cross.

A spokesman said: “Jones Homes and Peel Investment Intermediate Ltd jointly applied for planning consent for a residential development of 106 properties at Roscoe’s Farm in Westhoughton, with approval granted in May 2016.

“Whilst Jones Homes assisted with the planning application, the land is owned by Peel Investment Intermediate Ltd and a private party and we do not have any influence on the development or its timescales. Jones Homes remains committed to building well designed, high quality homes in Bolton. In March this year we acquired land on Victoria Road in Horwich for 129 properties and immediately started construction on site in April, with the development known as Rivington Grange.

“We continue to deliver new homes at Clevelands on Chorley New Road and Smithills Coaching House, Smithills Country Park, and early next year, once the designs for the scheme have been finalised, we will commence build at the Last Drop Village.”

No development work at all has begun on more than 700 homes across the borough which have had planning approval for at least 18 months, according to town hall figures.