PLANS to build 58 homes on a disused farm have been submitted to Bolton Council.

The proposals for the site of Hartley's Farm in Wingates Lane, Westhoughton, adds to the list of houses that are being built in the Wingates and Four Gates areas, including 28 off Church Street and 12 houses off Chorley Road.

The applicant Hollins Wingates claims the development would be ideally located because of the nearby road links, bus stops and Westhoughton Railway Station.

The design and access statement said: "The proposals comply with the policies of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework as a whole and it is evident that they represent sustainable development.

"They will result in numerous benefits, including sustainable housing development and the easing of pressure for release of Green Belt land to development, which are not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by any adverse impacts.

"The presumption in favour of sustainable development should therefore be applied and planning permission should be forthcoming."

According to the plans, the dwellings are going to be a range of heights between 8m and 12m.

The applicant also claimed the development would contribute towards housing figures in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

"As the proposals comply with the policies of the Framework as a whole, it is evident that contributing positively to all three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.

"In particular, Bolton Council is not meeting the requirement to significantly boost the supply of housing, in order to meet the current forecasts of household growth."

Westhoughton town councillor David Wilkinson said there had been six major planning applications in the Wingates and Four Gates area of Westhoughton recently.

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The Liberal Democrat, who represents Hoskers and Harts Common, said: "I just wish some of the developers would be more realistic, but we will comment on it when it comes before the town council."

For more information on the application, search for planning reference number 00579/17 on the Bolton Council website.