The access arrangements for a new housing estate off a busy road in South Ribble have been revealed.
Plans have been submitted proposing how traffic will enter the 74-dwelling development, which is to be built alongside Stanifield Lane in Farington. An indication has also been given regarding the exact nature of the access road to the new Lancashire Cricket facility nearby.
The housing – to be delivered by Rowland Homes – will form a residential enclave on the edge of the sprawling ‘Lancashire Central’ commercial scheme that will be constructed at Cuerden, on land that was once earmarked for a new Ikea store.
Read more: Dark smoke coming from Preston business leaves people living nearby unable to open back doors
Outline planning permission for that project – and the homes – was granted by Lancashire County Council just over two years ago.
Last October, the finer details of the housing estate’s layout were also given the nod by the authority’s development control committee – but on the condition that further information about the access point be provided before work began.
A blueprint has now been lodged for County Hall planning officers to consider suggesting that right-turning traffic into the estate from Stanifield Lane uses a so-called ‘ghost island’ – a short, segregated lane in the centre of the carriageway where vehicles can wait for a gap in the oncoming flow.
The plans show that the same potential arrangement has been proposed in the opposite direction for traffic turning right into the new Lancashire Cricket ground that has been built on the other side of Stanfield Lane – forming a ‘staggered’ junction.
It is also indicated that the exit road for traffic leaving the sporting facility will have two lanes, separating vehicles heading north and south.
All of the properties within the housing estate would be served by the same access point and the internal roads within the development would not link through to the wider Lancashire Central site.
However, according to documents submitted to the county council, there is the future prospect of those roads connecting to adjoining land further north – also allocated for housing – “should this be desirable at some point…[and] subject to landowner/developer agreement”.
Access to the estate for pedestrians and cyclists from Old School Lane is also planned.
The Rowland Homes site was originally granted permission for up to 116 dwellings, but the developer reduced that figure by around a third when it brought forward its detailed plans last year.
Lancashire Central is set to be accessed from various points – the M65 terminus roundabout, Wigan Road and Stanifield Lane.
The Lancashire County Council-designed project will be dominated by logistics, storage and office space – but will also feature retail units, food and drink outlets, a drive-through restaurant, car showrooms, a leisure centre, gym, health facility and creche.
Support Blog Preston: Keep our community reporting going and view the website without any adverts too. Sign up for a membership today.
Stay updated: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox. Help us report too, by contacting us if you see something we should be reporting on.
Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines
