Plans for 1,000 homes on green belt land get the go-ahead

A controversial development of 1,000 homes on green belt land at Mosley Common in Wigan has been approved following a six-hour session of the town’s planning committee. Peel L&P’s proposal got the go-ahead in the face of a 4,000-name petition and opposition from local councillor Jess Eastoe.

There were applause from the packed public gallery as one of the objectors to the plan, a resident of the area for 30 years Phil Woodward, spoke to the committee. He accused Wigan’s planning officers of being ‘obsessed’ wth getting the plan approved. “There’s been more consultation with developers than with the general public,” he said.

“There has been a 4,000-name petition and 600 people have submitted objections to the planning authority.” Mr Woodward claimed there was ‘no demand’ for the extra housing saying that building on the 100 per cent green belt land was ‘completely inappropriate’.

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He that the Greater Manchester masterplan ‘Places for Everyone’ which sets out development objectives in the city region for the next 15 years, and which has earmarked Mosley Common for inclusion, has yet to be accepted by Wigan council. “There’s no rush for the houses to be built as we already have six years of housing supply in the borough,” said Mr Woodward.

“People are worried about how they will get to work already on our congested roads and how their children will get into local schools and how they will get into doctors’ surgeries.” He finished amid loud applause from the public by saying: “Please make the right decision. Our lives depend on it.”

The development will take shape on both sides side of the Leigh guided busway now that a full planning application has been