NEW plans to add more homes to a highly controversial greenbelt site have been submitted to the council.

Four years ago Bolton Council refused plans submitted by Hollins Wingates to build 58 homes at the vacant Hartley’s Farm site in Westhoughton.

However, this was overturned by the government planning inspector after appeal, with planning permission eventually granted for 50 homes in 2020.

The developers have now revealed plans to build a further 30 houses further into the greenbelt.

The application site is immediately to the east of the formerly approved plans, which have begun development, and would include at least nine affordable homes, according to the applicant.

The applicant believes this development can follow guidelines relating to greenbelt developments and mitigate concerns around flooding.

A planning statement says: “The scheme will contribute to meeting the shortfall in housing development in the borough.”

The initial plans in 2017 were rejected by the council as it represented an inappropriate development on green land.

Inspectors acknowledged local fears that the development could impact the appearance of the surrounding area, as well as increasing traffic and potentially causing flooding problems.

Westhoughton North councillor Bernadette Eckersley-Fallon said: “When Bolton Council in 2019 gave planning permission for 58 houses off Wingates Lane, the developers said, ‘we not going further into the much larger Ditchers Farm site’.

“The new application for 30 houses is off the current one and the roads on the new application are open ended leading into more of the Ditchers Farm site.

“Church Lane/Wingates lane cannot take the extra traffic, we also have the devastating effect to wildlife. Bolton Council needs to wake up and listen to the residents not the developers.”