A DEVELOPMENT for more than 100 homes on former farmland has been rejected by town councillors.

The application to build 106 homes on the former Roscoe Farm site in Bolton Road Westhoughton was labelled as "inappropriate" and "over-development" by councillors.

The field, formerly known as Roscoe Farm, is owned by Peel Land and Property and is set to be developed by Jones Homes.

A mixture of three, four and five-bedroomed houses, in terraced, semi-detached and detached form, is proposed.

Despite being a greenfield site, the land does not form part of the green belt, and has been previously earmarked by Bolton Council as suitable for housing development.

Cllr David Chadwick told the Westhoughton Town Council meeting: "It isn't an appropriate development.

"It is a green field site, next to a high school and next to a nature reserve.

"We have already expressed our concerns that residents could throw their rubbish into the nature reserve.

"Westhoughton's infrastructure can't take the development.

"The development would see 200 plus cars on the road and Park Road at peak times is already bumper to bumper.

"It's just not appropriate."

Cllr Karen Lawrinson added: "Traffic is getting worse and worse, and this development won't help.

"It takes 25 minutes of a morning just to get to the White Horse from the top of Bolton road, it is ridiculous."

In the past the site has been used for informal grazing while a small area was used for warehousing and as a haulage yard.

In the application submitted by Peel Land and Property, the owner said: "The site is well placed to meet the development needs of the area.

"The proposal would comprise sustainable development and deliver economic and social benefits.

"The site is in an accessible location and residents would be able to access shops, services and school by means of transport other than the private car."