A HERITAGE group has called for a "major rethink" of the latest phase of a housing development.

Horwich Heritage has objected to Morris Homes' plans to build 402 homes as part of the second phase of the Loco Works development.

Despite supporting the plans in principle, it wants the developer to withdraw the application and address two "flaws" in the proposal.

Chairman Stuart Whittle told the town hall there are too many access points to the main spine road connecting to the local estate roads.

He said: "This will create major safety issues with so many cars trying to directly access the main spine road and the footpaths and cycleways being constantly interrupted by driveways."

Mr Whittle also said that only one of the two "greenways" shown in the original masterplan for the 1,700-home development feature in the latest application.

The Rivington Chase masterplan shows two off-road pedestrian and cycle routes at the Morris Homes site, according to Mr Whittle.

He said: "There are obviously too many houses on the site as it stands and the 'greenways' need to be re-introduced to give it some structure."

Conservative councillor Susan Baines told The Bolton News she thinks the plans need to be looked at again.

The new health and wellbeing executive stressed the importance of green spaces.

She said: "We were led to believe there would be more green spaces than there seems to be with this plan. If we want wellbeing at the centre of everything, this number of green spaces is not acceptable.

"There's going to be a lot of houses, we need to have enough green spaces for the people living there."

Horwich and Blackrod First Independents councillor Marie Brady said it was "disappointing" to see that the segregated cycle route on the Middlebrook link road is not continued to Station Road under the new plans.

Labour councillor Kevin McKeon said: "These are very important and valued objections and I think the developers should seriously consider what Horwich Heritage are saying."