Over 200 ‘much-needed’ new homes could be built on farmland near major hospital under new plans
More than 200 ‘much-needed’ new homes could be built on farmland bordering Ormskirk near the town’s hospital, if a new plan is approved.
But some people say it raises issues about the impact on traffic, woodland and local farming, and conflicts with a council plan for West Lancashire’s future development. Applicant Bloor Homes North West wants outline planning permission for up to 220 houses on land behind numbers 6-32 Crosshall Brow.
The developer says the plan would provide much-needed houses and insists the land was previously seen as a suitable site for homes and should be looked at once again. The outline plan has now been sent to West Lancashire Council, including details about site access, the land, local Ormskirk architecture and artist’s impressions of the types of houses built elsewhere by Bloor.
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But details on specific house designs and layout for this site would come in future. One document states: “The site comprises 7.9 hectares of farmland on the eastern fringe of Ormskirk. The proposals include enhancements to biodiversity and a high-quality network of open space and green connections through to Ruff Wood.
“The proposed site is sustainably located to the immediate east of Ormskirk Hospital and south of Ormskirk School. It represents an opportunity to provide much-needed market and affordable housing in a highly sustainable location where new residents could access local services and facilities on foot and by public transport.”
It adds: “The site has previously been identified by West Lancashire Council as a preferred location for housing. Whilst the draft local plan that identified this site as a suitable housing location has since been abandoned by the council, Bloor Homes strongly believes this continues to be an appropriate location for new housing.”
Bloor Homes says it is committed to working with the community on the plans. It says Ormskirk residents and organisations were given the opportunity to provide feedback through public consultation last year before the plan was sent to West Lancashire Council
More than 1,300 households and businesses were sent a community newsletter with a reply card, details of Bloor’s consultation website, an information phone number and a feedback email address. Bloor Homes says the main comments raised have been addressed.
The Our West Lancashire (OWL) political group recently held a meeting about the plan at Ormskirk Cricket Club. Coun Adrian Owens said: “Around 65 residents attended the meeting where Our West Lancashire provided a briefing on the application and how to make effective representations about it. Then came a question-and-answer session.
“The application submitted is contrary to the adopted local plan and on green belt farmland adjacent to Ruff Wood. There are several considerations relating to green belt development, such as traffic assessment; ecology and farmland, that were a particular focus of the discussions.”
West Lancashire Council will consider the plan in the coming weeks. Residents have until February 5 to make representations.