A NEW public inquiry date has been set into rejected plans to build hundreds of houses on Horwich Golf Course.

This follows an appeal lodged by Peel Investments (North) Ltd and Northstone Development Ltd after their plans to build 276 and 150 houses with ‘an area of ecological and recreational greenspace’ on land off Victoria Road, Horwich, including the golf course, were rejected by the borough's planning committee.

A planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, will hold a virtual inquiry on June 28 at 10am to hear the applicants appeal.

The inspector will either agree with the council’s decision and uphold the decision to reject the plans, or side with the developers, overriding the council’s decision, enabling plans to go ahead.

Homebuilder Northstone, a subsidiary of Peel Holdings, proposed the development for 150 homes, which was refused by Bolton Council’s planning committee in December.

Plans for a further 276 homes on the site, submitted directly by Peel Holdings, were then rejected by the council in January of this year.

Previous plans for 300 homes at the site were also thrown out by the council.

Each time the plans were rejected was due to concern at the impact the developments would have on the green space in Horwich.

The plans, which were recommended for approval by council officers, faced massive opposition, with 430 letters of objection and Horwich Town Council, local borough councillors and MP Chris Green all saying the plans were inappropriate for Horwich.

The course has ‘protected open space’ status, but the Government has previously overturned town hall attempts to block building on similar land in Blackrod and Westhoughton.

To attend the virtual inquiry, email kerr.brown@planninginspectorate.gov.uk