A CONTROVERSIAL application to build 129 homes in Westhoughton will be among the items on the planning committee’s agenda today.

The application submitted by Bellway Homes has caused concern among residents and councillors, many of whom believe the town’s infrastructure cannot cope with the development.

If approved, the homes would be built in Bowlands Hey on land off Collingwood Way and Old Lane.

The site will comprise of a mix of 16 four-bed detached, one four-bed mews house, 32 three-bed detached, 70 three-bed semi-detached/mews, two three-bed mews properties and two two-bed mews.

Of the properties, 37 of the three-bed semi-detached and eight of the two bed semi-detached will be affordable.

Access to the development is proposed from Collingwood Way.

A total of 110 objection letters have been received from local residents and 13 letters of support.

An application for 77 homes in Farnworth, on land at Blindsill Road, will also be heard by the planning committee after it was deferred at the last meeting in December.

If approved be a mix of house types, including,19 two-bedroomed semi-detached properties, 37 three-bedroomed semi-detached properties, 13 three-bedroomed detached properties and eight four-bedroomed detached properties, will be built.

In the last meeting officers were concerned that the developer— Gleeson Homes— had only offered to provide £35,000 in its 106 agreement.

The earmarked open space, which is bounded by Macdonald Avenue, Gorton Street, Ramsay Avenue and George Street, used to house a skate park and has been identified for house-building in the council’s allocations plan.

The meeting will take place in the lecture theatre of Bolton Library at 2pm.