Horwich green belt plan back despite FIVE previous rejections

Applicant ‘Mrs Miller’ first applied to demolish outbuildings on land at Shepherds Drive, off Chorley Old Road to make way for the new dwelling in 2016, with five applications in this time all being rejected.

All of the previous plans have been rejected by Bolton Council due to it being considered an ‘inappropriate’ development on the green belt.

• Horwich green belt house plans rejected for a FIFTH time

The most recent application was dismissed on appeal on May 11 by the Planning Inspectorate were an official said: “The proposed development would be inappropriate development which would, by definition, cause harm to the green belt.

OPPOSED Cllr Richard Silvester in Shepherds Drive, Horwich

“Very special circumstances to justify the proposal do not exist and the existing condition of the site does not cause undue harm to the appearance of the area and does not justify its redevelopment for residential use.”

The applicant believes the issues have been addressed in the latest application.

This includes moving the new proposed buildings to replace the existing buildings so that it doesn’t go any further into the green belt than it already is. It has also been reduced in height to a single storey dwelling.

A planning statement reads: “It has been fully demonstrated that the new proposal would satisfy any issues raised as part of the reasons for refusal.

“The proposed dwelling now sits in the same position of the existing structures and would be constructed no higher than the current roof height of the development.”

Ward councillor Kevin McKeon says he will be campaigning for the plans to be rejected again.

Horwich North East councillor Kevin McKeon

Cllr McKeon said: “I have objected to all of the previous planning applications to build a property at this site on Shepherds Drive because it is green belt land.

“I am hopeful this latest proposal will also be refused because nothing has changed since the last application and the planning inspector only a few months ago in May concluded the site should not be developed.

“Yet again there are no very special circumstances to build a property on the site in the green belt.

“The applicant it seems will not give up submitting planning applications and trying however then again, both I and Cllr Silvester will not stop objecting either.”