Plans for a new 136-home estate on green land in Standish have drawn more than 100 objections from residents who fear the development will worsen already 'horrendous' traffic and overwhelm local infrastructure.
Phase Three Development on Former Golf Course
Morris Homes and Persimmon Homes have submitted detailed proposals for the latest phase of development on land to the south of Rectory Lane. The 13-hectare site was previously used as a golf course and forms part of a larger residential scheme already partially built by the two developers. Phase one was granted in October 2013 and phase two in August 2015.
The site is off Rectory Lane, with the Owls Hotel to the north and the west coast main line railway to the east. If approved, the homes would be positioned in two main parcels to the north and south, split by the dense woodland running east-west towards the centre of the site, known as Kitchen Carr Wood. The site's physical characteristics include open grassland, woodland and hedgerows.
Housing Mix and Affordable Units
A planning report submitted by the developers states: 'These factors inform a landscape-led layout that retains features where beneficial, enhances the woodland areas and ensures efficient use of developable areas.' The plans include 102 'market dwellings' consisting of detached, semi-detached and bungalow properties. The remaining 34 units will be 'affordable dwellings': six one-bed maisonettes, 14 two-bed maisonettes and 14 three-bed homes. Of these, 18 affordable homes will be for social rent.
The report said the site had been identified for future housing development by Wigan council and is included in the emerging local plan to support sustainable housing growth in Standish. Site access will be taken off Wood Green Close and Moss Green Close, which were built during phase two of the project.
Residents' Concerns Over Infrastructure
As of June 23, there had been 125 public published comments on the proposals, with the vast majority objecting. One comment from a neighbour said: 'This proposal represents a significant and unsustainable expansion of housing in an area that has already experienced substantial residential development, yet the supporting infrastructure has entirely failed to keep pace. Granting permission in these circumstances risks repeating and exacerbating existing problems on an even larger scale.'
Another resident stated: 'I wholly object to this. The whole infrastructure of Standish cannot cope at the moment, never mind with an extra 100+ cars on the road if this gets the go ahead. The traffic in Standish is horrendous as it is, with traffic queued all the way down Rectory Lane at peak times. It takes weeks or months to get an appointment at the only GP in Standish, even for children. The schools are oversubscribed right now. No more room for any houses in Standish.'
Wigan council will decide on the plans in the coming weeks.
