The 'remarkable' nature reserve that could be destroyed by housing plans

Plans to build 116 houses on the West Pennine Moors close to a nature reserve have been slammed by conservationists. The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is concerned that the development of the derelict Springside Works mill site, in Belmont, which borders Bolton, will have a damaging effect on its Longworth Clough nature reserve and the creatures and plants that live there.

Developers Urban Springside Ltd have brought forward the plans to develop the Springside Works site. In a letter to Blackburn with Darwen Council, trust conservation officer David Dunlop, stressed his fears over disturbance to many species of birds at the area, which is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

He said: “Woodcock is most at risk from disturbance associated with the development proposed, being a ground-nesting species. However, a significant increase in recreational disturbance could affect other key species, notably willow tit, pied flycatcher, redstart, green woodpecker, dipper, kingfisher, grey wagtail, sparrowhawk, buzzard, tawny owl and lesser redpoll.

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“There is also a rich assemblage of other woodland breeding birds like nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, garden warbler and blackcap. And barn owl, raven, kestrel, pied wagtail and stock dove have all been recorded.”

There would also be an impact on foraging and migrating of frogs, toads and newts.

The trust is particularly worried that the development does not take into account biodiversity net gain where developers agree to make areas at least 10 per cent better for wildlife than before the building took place.

The 100 square miles of the West