A group of objectors are standing against a recent application for five large houses on a section of grassland in Standish. The plan for the small residential development off Arbour Lane in this corner of Wigan is for permission in principle - which means a further application with in-depth detail of the development would be needed before any building work could commence.
Despite this, Standish Voice, who are supportive of keeping the green belt where this development would be built, have already lodged their objection to this as it forms part of the land they want to be retained for public use. They believe the area is already overpopulated and oppose house building on the grassland - reasoning they have used to object to a 83-home development proposed by Jones Homes nearby.
A spokesperson for Standish Voice said: “There has been a huge programme of house building in Standish which has overwhelmed our infrastructure but none of it has been built on our green belt, which is protected.
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“It is vital that the very strict rules of development in our precious green belt are upheld and this application is strongly refused. Allowing this application would give free rein to other housebuilders itching to tear up more of our green fields around Standish for yet more inappropriate development.
"We urge others who want to protect our greenfield areas to object to this proposal.”
Applicants Julie Whalley, Elaine Bithell, Robin Higham and Clare Higham all believe that their ‘high-quality residential scheme’ can work for this site which sits opposite to Kiwi Nurseries Garden Centre. Their argument, outlined in the planning statement, is that approval of new dwellings on the adjoining Black Horse Farm site back in 2018 “shows that there is acceptance of new houses in this location”.
Mrs Julie Whalley, who is also an applicant for this development, was granted permission by Wigan Council at the time to build three houses on the site. No decision has been made by the council on this matter so far.
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