A scheme to build five new houses across open land has been given the go-ahead despite several objections.

The plan aims to build the homes on land off Manchester Road in Kearsley and were debated at Bolton town hall.

Several people living nearby sent in letters objecting to the plan, and Cllr Debbie Newall of Kearsley spoke against the scheme at a planning meeting this week.

She said: “There would be a necessary loss of amenity for residents who at the moment have an open space to look upon.

“They would lose that and instead be looking out at a brick wall.”

The Bolton News: The plans were debated at a town hall meetingThe plans were debated at a town hall meeting (Image: Studio Tashkeel Architecture Ltd)

Cllr Newall also warned that extra housing in an area close to Kearsley precinct could significantly add to the traffic.

She said: “This is a very, very busy road.”

She added: “There is a constant flow of traffic on this access road.”

The proposed houses will be a mixture of five- and four-bedroom homes along with parking and bin areas.

They will be finished with red brick and roof tiles to match the same materials used in nearby Melrose Court.

As well as Cllr Newall, 13 people living nearby had sent in letters of objection citing concerns about overlook, loss of privacy and the effect on wildlife.

Cllr Newall argued that Bolton’s need to meet its five-year housing commitment did not mean that it should simply allow all schemes to be approved.

These points were taken up by Cllr David Wilkinson, of Westhoughton South, who warned that the five year housing supply target was “one we will never meet and probably haven’t met it quite some time.”

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He said: “Are we here just to tick boxes? That is my subtle interpretation.

“I have been here too long, and planning is not really planning to be honest.”

But the members heard that if they rejected the plan for the housing it was likely that they would not be able to defend this decision if the developers appealed it.

Cllr David Grant, of Horwich South and Blackrod, said: “I would not be happy because it think it is over development but I think it would get approved on appeal.”

The planning committee members ultimately voted to approve the scheme.