A planned development on land close to Gregson Lane has been almost universally panned by residents living nearby amid concerns over traffic and the environment.
Plans put forward by Rowland Homes could see 101 new houses and four apartments built on land off Daub Hall Lane.
The site has been subject to two previous attempts at development, with one withdrawn in 2018 and a second application refused later by South Ribble Borough Council.
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At the time of refusal, one of the reasons given was that it would be the development of ‘Protected Open Land’ and the lack of affordable housing as part of the plan.
But the land is earmarked for development under the most recent version of the Central Lancashire Local Plan and the current Labour government has been keen to be seen to be building more new homes to make getting on the property ladder more affordable for young people.
300 public comments have been given to South Ribble Borough Council in response to the plans and, of that number, 291 are objections.
Those objections include concerns about the sewage system, pressures on the road system particularly around the Hospital Inn where there can be long delays, waits for GP appointments and flood risk concerns.
Rowland Homes would likely argue that the Flood Risk Assessment they have carried out addresses any concerns relating to flooding and the sewage system.
A spokesperson for Rowland Homes said: “The land at Daub Hall Lane has been identified by South Ribble Council as a housing allocation in the emerging Central Lancashire Local Plan.
“Our plans for Daub Hall Lane represent a sustainable and well-considered extension to the village which has been designed following extensive technical due diligence including, transport assessments, flood risk assessments, ecology surveys and utilities surveys.”
Damian North, 54, from Gregson Lane, has launched the campaign group Keep Gregson Green.
He told Blog Preston: “It’s really disappointing that they’re causing so much anxiety to the local population, and the local villages who are almost overwhelmingly against it.
“Our main objections are the local infrastructure. Daub Hall Lane is a very narrow country road, there are obviously traffic issues already. So all the extra houses would be a huge issue for this small village.”
Cllr Mathew Forshaw, who represents Coupe Green and Gregson Lane for Reform UK at South Ribble Borough Council after defecting from the Conservatives last year, said he is ‘appalled’ at the way the authority has handled the application.
He told Blog Preston: “I was not notified by the Council, as I should have been, but instead learned about it through members of the community and the developer’s agent.
“This is completely unacceptable, and I have already challenged this. As presented, this development is not appropriate. It raises significant questions, and I fully understand and share the concerns being expressed by residents.”
Cllr Colin Sharples, Cabinet Member for Planning and Licensing at South Ribble Borough Council said: “As with every planning application we receive, this planning application has been subject to full consultation upon its validation in accordance with legislative requirements, namely neighbour notification letters, the positing of notices close to the site and a newspaper advertisement.
“Details of the planning application, as well as supporting documentation, can be found on our website. Whilst we are past the minimum statutory period required for public consultation, we continue to accept representation whilst the application is being assessed for consideration in the officer’s report to the Planning Committee which will be no earlier than the Planning Committee meeting on the 26 March 2026.”
He added that he is planning to organise a public meeting in the near future where residents can share their concerns.
A decision is provisionally expected on the development by March 2026.
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