Bid fails to stop new Darwen homes plan

1:00pm Saturday 23rd March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Bill Jacobs, Local government reporter

SUDELL councillor Paul Browne has failed in a one-man last-ditch bid to scupper a controversial 133-home development between Pole Lane and Spring Meadows, Darwen.

The Liberal Democrat tried to persuade this week’s meeting of borough planners to withdraw permission for the scheme because a deadline to sign paperwork had been missed by the landowners.

But his colleagues ignored his plea and extended the time limit for the completion of agreements to pay more than £100,000 towards off-site affordable housing and public transport improvements from March 25 to June 25.

Coun Browne was the only committee member to vote against the extension but extracted a promise from chairman Jim Smith and borough regeneration chief Dave Harling that if the new deadline was missed, the permission would be withdrawn.

The proposed development, now part of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s ambitious plans to build up to 4,000 rural executive homes on the outskirts of the borough, has been a persistent cause of controversy.

Originally rejected by the committee and a government inspector in 2011, it was approved in December with a deadline for the Section 106 agreements to be signed this month and a two-year timetable for completion.

Coun Browne told the committee: “This development is unnecessary and there is no point in setting a deadline to sign agreements if it is missed.”

Coun Harling said: “This is a technical matter concerned with the number of landowners needing to sign the agreements.”

Tory planning spokesman Alan Cottam expressed concerns about delays and possible ‘landbanking’ of the site.

Coun Browne said after the meeting: “I wanted to stop this scheme. We do not need it. I was disappointed I was the only councillor to vote against.

“If they miss it again, I expect the committee to rescind the planning permission as promised.”

Darwen town councillor Simon Hugill said: “The deadline should have been met. It makes the committee look silly.”

Paul Sedgwick, agent for developer Ruttle Plant Holdings, said: “This is simply a technical matter. I hope the agreements will be signed by June and the development completed with- in the two-year-timetable.”

Comments (9)

3:12pm Sat 23 Mar 13

35yearSurrenderMonkeys says...

Just hope it doen't end up like the belgrave development which looks like a cross between landfill and the Berlin wall right in the middle of the town centre. The extremes of architecture, Sir christopher wrens belgarve chapel, is this fact or fiction, next to the berlin wall. Maybe this deisgn classic was a visionary fusion of post war modernistic Berlin meets the classics of st pauls cathedral.
But us simple Darreners fail to see the beauty. Can we not flatten this hideous carbuncle first
Just hope it doen't end up like the belgrave development which looks like a cross between landfill and the Berlin wall right in the middle of the town centre. The extremes of architecture, Sir christopher wrens belgarve chapel, is this fact or fiction, next to the berlin wall. Maybe this deisgn classic was a visionary fusion of post war modernistic Berlin meets the classics of st pauls cathedral. But us simple Darreners fail to see the beauty. Can we not flatten this hideous carbuncle first 35yearSurrenderMonkeys

3:15pm Sat 23 Mar 13

JohnR1 says...

Are the developers going to pay for traffic lights at the pole lane/sough rd crossroads and widening of the railway bridges?
Are the developers going to pay for traffic lights at the pole lane/sough rd crossroads and widening of the railway bridges? JohnR1

4:01pm Sat 23 Mar 13

phil kernot says...

JohnR1 wrote:
Are the developers going to pay for traffic lights at the pole lane/sough rd crossroads and widening of the railway bridges?
Round about would be better and yes thay have to pay to get planning to go through , why does the railway bridge need widening lol
[quote][p][bold]JohnR1[/bold] wrote: Are the developers going to pay for traffic lights at the pole lane/sough rd crossroads and widening of the railway bridges?[/p][/quote]Round about would be better and yes thay have to pay to get planning to go through , why does the railway bridge need widening lol phil kernot

4:09pm Sat 23 Mar 13

phil kernot says...

Take its because local residents that live in run down terraces who dont maintain them that cant sell em feel threatened , when new houses next to them get built , serves you right if you aask me if you can't sell em
Take its because local residents that live in run down terraces who dont maintain them that cant sell em feel threatened , when new houses next to them get built , serves you right if you aask me if you can't sell em phil kernot

7:34pm Sat 23 Mar 13

english rose 1 says...

Cllr Browne knows full well that this land has been earmarked for housing for donkey's years. Cllr Browne voted for the successive district plans that designated this land for future housing development. Now he's suddenly against it !
*
Political posturing of the worst kind - typical Lib-Dem.
Cllr Browne knows full well that this land has been earmarked for housing for donkey's years. Cllr Browne voted for the successive district plans that designated this land for future housing development. Now he's suddenly against it ! * Political posturing of the worst kind - typical Lib-Dem. english rose 1

8:54pm Sat 23 Mar 13

johndarwen says...

I do hope that they upgrage all the roads to duel carrageways, other wise all them new people who buy these houses will only be able to commute to work. Look at the traffice up shad from 3pm -6pm, what a nighmare. Roman road will not take the presure of high volume every day. Who ever did the traffic review must have been drunk to think that no impact will happen. Bet it was Capita who did the review!!!
I do hope that they upgrage all the roads to duel carrageways, other wise all them new people who buy these houses will only be able to commute to work. Look at the traffice up shad from 3pm -6pm, what a nighmare. Roman road will not take the presure of high volume every day. Who ever did the traffic review must have been drunk to think that no impact will happen. Bet it was Capita who did the review!!! johndarwen

11:43pm Sat 23 Mar 13

JohnR1 says...

phil kernot wrote:
JohnR1 wrote:
Are the developers going to pay for traffic lights at the pole lane/sough rd crossroads and widening of the railway bridges?
Round about would be better and yes thay have to pay to get planning to go through , why does the railway bridge need widening lol
The increased volume of traffic in Watery Lane will mean more occurrences of 2 vehicles approaching the bridge from opposite ends. Since the average driver round here finds it too difficult to stay on their side of the centre line when crossing said bridge, it will lead to more accidents or one side having to stop behind some numpty who has no idea how wide their car is!
[quote][p][bold]phil kernot[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]JohnR1[/bold] wrote: Are the developers going to pay for traffic lights at the pole lane/sough rd crossroads and widening of the railway bridges?[/p][/quote]Round about would be better and yes thay have to pay to get planning to go through , why does the railway bridge need widening lol[/p][/quote]The increased volume of traffic in Watery Lane will mean more occurrences of 2 vehicles approaching the bridge from opposite ends. Since the average driver round here finds it too difficult to stay on their side of the centre line when crossing said bridge, it will lead to more accidents or one side having to stop behind some numpty who has no idea how wide their car is! JohnR1

4:54pm Sun 24 Mar 13

english rose 1 says...

johndarwen wrote:
I do hope that they upgrage all the roads to duel carrageways, other wise all them new people who buy these houses will only be able to commute to work. Look at the traffice up shad from 3pm -6pm, what a nighmare. Roman road will not take the presure of high volume every day. Who ever did the traffic review must have been drunk to think that no impact will happen. Bet it was Capita who did the review!!!
Whilst I don't disagree with your comments about the traffic up Shad / Roman Rd etc this is mainly because more and more folk are getting (and using) vehicles. Car ownership is rising at about 1% per year, altho' this has slowed a bit during the recession. Congestion will only get worse the more cars that are on the road.
*
Unfortunately Capita cannot stop folk buying cars and using them !
[quote][p][bold]johndarwen[/bold] wrote: I do hope that they upgrage all the roads to duel carrageways, other wise all them new people who buy these houses will only be able to commute to work. Look at the traffice up shad from 3pm -6pm, what a nighmare. Roman road will not take the presure of high volume every day. Who ever did the traffic review must have been drunk to think that no impact will happen. Bet it was Capita who did the review!!![/p][/quote]Whilst I don't disagree with your comments about the traffic up Shad / Roman Rd etc this is mainly because more and more folk are getting (and using) vehicles. Car ownership is rising at about 1% per year, altho' this has slowed a bit during the recession. Congestion will only get worse the more cars that are on the road. * Unfortunately Capita cannot stop folk buying cars and using them ! english rose 1

9:06pm Tue 26 Mar 13

jokeplans says...

So when it comes to the crunch the landowners cant come up with the cash on the date agreed !! What a surprise. Now the council have extended the deadline until June ! How unbelievable. The whole thing is an absolute joke. Can i have an extension on paying my council tax please mr councillor ?
Who are the people hoping to build this mini toytown on unsuitable land ? Bob the builder !!!
Overseen by comics in offices. I look forward to June, no cash again and the planning permission taken away ! Result !!! The only thing to sort out then will be slowing down the mindless idiots that race up Pole Lane at 40+ mph !
So when it comes to the crunch the landowners cant come up with the cash on the date agreed !! What a surprise. Now the council have extended the deadline until June ! How unbelievable. The whole thing is an absolute joke. Can i have an extension on paying my council tax please mr councillor ? Who are the people hoping to build this mini toytown on unsuitable land ? Bob the builder !!! Overseen by comics in offices. I look forward to June, no cash again and the planning permission taken away ! Result !!! The only thing to sort out then will be slowing down the mindless idiots that race up Pole Lane at 40+ mph ! jokeplans

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree