Plans for 14 new houses on ‘brownfield’ land at a busy Bolton junction have been given the go-ahead. 

The project will see the new homes built at the junction of Old Hall Street, Bolton Road, Higher Market Street and Longcauseway on an open area of council owned land with grass and trees.

The decision was taken by Bolton Council officers who ruled that it could be a ‘positive’ step for the area.

Cllr Debbie Newall, of One Kearsley, said: “It’s a balancing act, we’re always mindful that we need affordable housing for Kearsley residents and with Bolton at Home we’re always looking for housing that can be delegated for people.

“But with private developers on brownfield sites with planning applications you need what they call material considerations to be able to object.”

The Bolton News:

The plans include a mix of detached and semi-detached houses

She added: “Even if you’ve got objections from residents and the committee refuse it the applicants can always appeal and you don’t have any comeback if they win the appeal.”

Under the plans there will be four detached and five pairs of semi-detached houses built on the property, all of them with four bedrooms and with spaces for vehicle access. 

The council’s report states that the area is a brownfield site, close to the centre of Farnworth, which is largely overgrown since the demolition of the former buildings there.

According to the report there is potential to build a small play area on the site.

She said: “Planning laws are the law of the land and they’re balanced in favour of developers because we’ve got this housing shortage.

“But for people who live near brownfield sites, it could be more like a field.

“Brownfield sites are quite often more like amenity sites for people who live there.”