Decision to be made over controversial 470-home development 'West Leigh Waterfront' by Pennington Flash

More than 100 objections have been submitted after plans to build a housing development of 470 homes in Leigh have re-emerged. West Leigh Waterfront was brought to light back in 2016 and has remained a point of controversy since with road infrastructure, pollution, wildlife destruction, flood risk and land instability all being causes of concern for protestors.

The land next to Pennington Flash would see internal access roads, public open space including play facilities, and car parking for West Leigh Cricket Club in addition to the houses. Of the 470 homes being built by Taylor Wimpey, 118 would be affordable housing.

There are fears amongst residents that this proposal, close to the Pennington Wharf development, could lead to the roads around it to become rat runs, according to the West Leigh Waterfront Residents Action Group.

Read more: Objectors "very angry" about plans for 'music and dance events' at popular Pennington Flash nature reserve in Leigh

“Plank Lane Swing bridge is not designed to cope with an additional 920 vehicles from this development and 1200 vehicles from the Pennington Wharf development and additional through traffic that will use the primary link road,” they said. “This is a one lane road which leads to Plank Lane and Slag lane.

“Having another primary link road in this area will increase traffic flow further and create a ‘rat run’ through the development with a potential bottleneck at the Twist Lane roundabout – where traffic congestion from Wigan Road is already a significant problem during peak times.”

An officer’s report documented that 154 representations were made from members of the public who raised additional points regarding a lack of need for the housing, the loss of open space and