'It’s not wanted' - plan for 123 houses in town ‘a terrible idea’

The proposal for Higher Road, by VH Land Partnership, would see 123 properties constructed including a mixture of two, three and four bedroom houses, if approved.

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The application requests permission to demolish a house in the road to create access into the site.

It comes as plans were submitted to Ribble Valley Council to build 275 homes in Preston Road, which would include 172 market homes, 61 affordable homes and 42 single-storey dwellings for elderly people.

Cllr Ken Hind, who represents the town, said he strongly opposes the plans and has called for a public meeting next week on the application.

He said: “This is a terrible idea and I totally and utterly oppose it.

“It’s not wanted and it’s not necessary, we have sufficient family homes planned.

“We have seen lots of planning applications go in for hundreds of houses and the residents are not going to like this.

“There is no thinking behind this, there are no plans for any extra schools or infrastructure to support these houses.

“The town is being overwhelmed by developers.”

The site is divided into three fields and the northern and western edge borders residential properties along Higher Road and Dilworth Lane.

A spokesman for VH Land Partnership in a statement to the council said: “The key principles underlying the development of the design are to achieve a sustainable development that is well integrated with the existing settlement of Longridge.

“We want to ensure that the development sits well in the existing landscape and to achieve a high quality design delivering a mix of house types and sizes.

“We wish to make sure that the design is based on local character and provides a safe and attractive environment which is accessible for all.

“The development will be easy to navigate with a clear hierarchy of streets and a fully integrated network of pedestrian routes.

“The scale of the development responds to the characteristics of the site.”