Second bid to build Darwen homes

12:00pm Monday 24th September 2012 in News

CONTROVERSIAL plans for 133 new homes that were thrown out by the planning department last year are to be resubmitted this week.

The plans to develop land between Pole Lane and Spring Meadows were refused by Blackburn with Darwen’s planning committee in January last year.

Developers Ruttle Plant Holdings appealed to the Planning Inspectorate in October but the council’s decision was upheld.

But a year on the developers are back for another go.

Paul Sedgwick, of Sedgwick Associates, which is representing the developer, said the build would fit in with the council’s ‘core strategy’ for development.

He said: “The council’s core strategy requires 625 new homes a year. So far they are about 600 short of that. There will also be 20 per cent affordable homes.”

Mr Sedgwick said this sort of development was required under Government policy.

He said: “The Government said it needed house building to aid economic recovery. This should be seen as a positive contribution.”

In response to criticisms over building on a greenfield site instead of brownfield, Mr Sedgwick said there was no demand for brownfield builds.

He said: “The trouble with brownfield is it is not where people want to build as it isn’t where people are looking to buy houses.

“At the moment, the only people who can afford homes or mortgages are those moving up the property ladder. This is good as they free up houses for people lower down the ladder.”

Marsh House town councillor Simon Huggill said he was still opposed to the plans.

He said: “I can’t see anything has changed. It shows a disregard for residents and the Planning Inspectorate. I am a great believer in the sustaining of our countryside.”

Comments (22)

2:03pm Mon 24 Sep 12

eastlancslad says...

I've asked before and not got an answer. How the chuffin hell will building a few houses aid the economy. Economic wealth is made by producing things and flogging them all over the world. Building a house in Darwen will 'kick start' nothing, and will sell only once or twice in the next 20 years.
Simon Huggill, you are dead right. Stick to your guns, and don't let the -------- grind you down!
Paul Sedgwick, don't you know that what a government minister says depends on the ploitical situation at the time he says it. It's not written in blood. Anyway government ministers in my experience rarely have any expertise in any field other than talking themselves up
Ruttle Homes, maximising your profit is what building on green field sites is all about. I don't have a problem with making a profit, but please do not think we are stupid. Most of us arn't.
Which bit of 'we dont want your homes here' do you not understand?
I've asked before and not got an answer. How the chuffin hell will building a few houses aid the economy. Economic wealth is made by producing things and flogging them all over the world. Building a house in Darwen will 'kick start' nothing, and will sell only once or twice in the next 20 years. Simon Huggill, you are dead right. Stick to your guns, and don't let the -------- grind you down! Paul Sedgwick, don't you know that what a government minister says depends on the ploitical situation at the time he says it. It's not written in blood. Anyway government ministers in my experience rarely have any expertise in any field other than talking themselves up Ruttle Homes, maximising your profit is what building on green field sites is all about. I don't have a problem with making a profit, but please do not think we are stupid. Most of us arn't. Which bit of 'we dont want your homes here' do you not understand? eastlancslad

2:34pm Mon 24 Sep 12

Bat E Karen says...

"He said: “The trouble with brownfield is it is not where people want to build as it isn’t where people are looking to buy houses. "

If they built houses of a decent size, with reasonable gardens and a bit of landscaping on brownfield, I'm sure people would look to buy them.

The Council should keep hold of as much greenfield land as possible and tidy up the scruffy areas that have been left to fester.
"He said: “The trouble with brownfield is it is not where people want to build as it isn’t where people are looking to buy houses. " If they built houses of a decent size, with reasonable gardens and a bit of landscaping on brownfield, I'm sure people would look to buy them. The Council should keep hold of as much greenfield land as possible and tidy up the scruffy areas that have been left to fester. Bat E Karen

3:08pm Mon 24 Sep 12

english rose 1 says...

This particular piece of land is 'safeguarded land' in the Borough Plan and has been for donkeys years.
'Safeguarded land' means the land has been earmarked for future housing development. (Town Councillor Huggill knows this full well).
*
The main reason it was refused last time is that development was premature in that other brownfield sites hadn't been developed yet.
*
The Tory/Lib-Dem Government has complicated things by insisting that all Councils bring forward more land for development.
*
This land will be developed for housing at some point in the future - it's the timing that's the issue.
This particular piece of land is 'safeguarded land' in the Borough Plan and has been for donkeys years. 'Safeguarded land' means the land has been earmarked for future housing development. (Town Councillor Huggill knows this full well). * The main reason it was refused last time is that development was premature in that other brownfield sites hadn't been developed yet. * The Tory/Lib-Dem Government has complicated things by insisting that all Councils bring forward more land for development. * This land will be developed for housing at some point in the future - it's the timing that's the issue. english rose 1

8:18pm Mon 24 Sep 12

johndarwen says...

Why not just finish other building work first, sell those houses then build the new ones, but people do not want the houses in town, they want it out of town on brown land.. Lets make the town centre a greenfield with houses around it ?
Blackburn will give in this time and alow the building work to comence. Time to find a plane and leave this sinking (stinking) town and leave it to the people that are making this place look like the back of beyond.
Why not just finish other building work first, sell those houses then build the new ones, but people do not want the houses in town, they want it out of town on brown land.. Lets make the town centre a greenfield with houses around it ? Blackburn will give in this time and alow the building work to comence. Time to find a plane and leave this sinking (stinking) town and leave it to the people that are making this place look like the back of beyond. johndarwen

10:41pm Mon 24 Sep 12

salcat says...

Has anyone considered the traffic in that area. It,s a nightmare as it is at the moment without an increase in traffic. The speed that some cars also tear down pole lane and round the bends its a wonder there have been no fatalities
Has anyone considered the traffic in that area. It,s a nightmare as it is at the moment without an increase in traffic. The speed that some cars also tear down pole lane and round the bends its a wonder there have been no fatalities salcat

3:41pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

Excellent news ! Darwen needs more executive housing and this piece of wasteland fits the bill perfectly, we need to modernize this part of the town more and compliment the up to date developments on the adjacent land, no one wants to buy old cottages any more, or live in squalor like some of the protesting biggots of these plans, if we rely on any of these people to make decisions for us Darwen will plummet back into the dark ages !
Excellent news ! Darwen needs more executive housing and this piece of wasteland fits the bill perfectly, we need to modernize this part of the town more and compliment the up to date developments on the adjacent land, no one wants to buy old cottages any more, or live in squalor like some of the protesting biggots of these plans, if we rely on any of these people to make decisions for us Darwen will plummet back into the dark ages ! Darwenwolf

4:04pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Chrissy camel says...

I agree with Darwenwolf! This land is run down and looks a disgrace with the shanty town style huts and rotting horse boxes.
It's only a matter of time before the planning is passed. Like English rose quoted "'Safeguarded land' means the land has been earmarked for future housing development. (Town Councillor Huggill knows this full well)." You only have to do your homework/research to know this!
Bring on the development!!!!
I agree with Darwenwolf! This land is run down and looks a disgrace with the shanty town style huts and rotting horse boxes. It's only a matter of time before the planning is passed. Like English rose quoted "'Safeguarded land' means the land has been earmarked for future housing development. (Town Councillor Huggill knows this full well)." You only have to do your homework/research to know this! Bring on the development!!!! Chrissy camel

4:11pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

Hopefully when the plans are approved the new residents will form a committee and get some of the ranting and foul mouthed occupants of Pole Lane put into some BROWNFIELD care homes ! Mrs. M.B. especially.
Hopefully when the plans are approved the new residents will form a committee and get some of the ranting and foul mouthed occupants of Pole Lane put into some BROWNFIELD care homes ! Mrs. M.B. especially. Darwenwolf

4:16pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

Hopefully when the plans are approved the new residents will form a committee and get some of the ranting and foul mouthed occupants of Pole Lane put into some BROWNFIELD care homes ! Mrs. M.B. especially.
Hopefully when the plans are approved the new residents will form a committee and get some of the ranting and foul mouthed occupants of Pole Lane put into some BROWNFIELD care homes ! Mrs. M.B. especially. Darwenwolf

4:22pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

Thank you Chrissy Camel, very glad to see someone else talking sense !
Thank you Chrissy Camel, very glad to see someone else talking sense ! Darwenwolf

5:01pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Chrissy camel says...

Will also be plenty more customers for the local shops and public houses. Sure the shop on priory and the one at bottom of cranberry will be happy and maybe we'll see the craven have more than 3 locals in a day and back to a busy family pub!
Will also be plenty more customers for the local shops and public houses. Sure the shop on priory and the one at bottom of cranberry will be happy and maybe we'll see the craven have more than 3 locals in a day and back to a busy family pub! Chrissy camel

6:07pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

Can someone please clarify if Mr. Simon Huggill is still actually a councillor for Marsh House (or actually has any currunt standing of worthy recognition for BwD council) ? I thought (as the BwD website quotes) he had retired (or in other words failed to get re-elected)
Can someone please clarify if Mr. Simon Huggill is still actually a councillor for Marsh House (or actually has any currunt standing of worthy recognition for BwD council) ? I thought (as the BwD website quotes) he had retired (or in other words failed to get re-elected) Darwenwolf

6:24pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Chrissy camel says...

He failed to get re-elected. Correct me if I'm wrong Tom Huw Evans won more votes than Huggill.
He failed to get re-elected. Correct me if I'm wrong Tom Huw Evans won more votes than Huggill. Chrissy camel

6:43pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

Could someone please divulge exactly what EX and I repeat EX MARSH HOUSE COUNCILLOR HUGGILL means by the words "disregard for the planning inspectorate" I thought that in a democratic country such as this one you could put forward plans to the council as part of your democratic right, is there some kind of legislation that we should be aware of beforehand so as not to be seen to show DISREGARD to our EX or even current councillors ?
Could someone please divulge exactly what EX and I repeat EX MARSH HOUSE COUNCILLOR HUGGILL means by the words "disregard for the planning inspectorate" I thought that in a democratic country such as this one you could put forward plans to the council as part of your democratic right, is there some kind of legislation that we should be aware of beforehand so as not to be seen to show DISREGARD to our EX or even current councillors ? Darwenwolf

6:43pm Tue 25 Sep 12

pyeman2010 says...

The planning permission shouldn't of been turned down the first time!
The planning permission shouldn't of been turned down the first time! pyeman2010

7:18pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Chrissy camel says...

Sure once the planning permission is passed and the houses are built the river that flows across pole lane onto priory drive every time a little rain falls causing the junction to become dangerous to pass or even stop on will no long be an issue.
The 6ft crater that every car tries to avoid opposite the cottages will be sorted too. So not only is it making the run down area look much better but stopping possible accidents happening every time someone swerves around the craters and saving people money in car repairs.
No doubt someone will comment saying these things can be fixed without the planning permission being passed but how long has the water flowed across pole lane? Years is the answer! How many times do these holes get filled in reappearing weeks later?
All small things but all things that effect people on a daily basis.
The doubters and moaner are just the people that don't want houses looking nicer and better kept than that of their own (Simon Huggill)!!
Sure once the planning permission is passed and the houses are built the river that flows across pole lane onto priory drive every time a little rain falls causing the junction to become dangerous to pass or even stop on will no long be an issue. The 6ft crater that every car tries to avoid opposite the cottages will be sorted too. So not only is it making the run down area look much better but stopping possible accidents happening every time someone swerves around the craters and saving people money in car repairs. No doubt someone will comment saying these things can be fixed without the planning permission being passed but how long has the water flowed across pole lane? Years is the answer! How many times do these holes get filled in reappearing weeks later? All small things but all things that effect people on a daily basis. The doubters and moaner are just the people that don't want houses looking nicer and better kept than that of their own (Simon Huggill)!! Chrissy camel

10:18pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

Correct me if I am wrong but did Mr. Huggill not suggest a few years ago (when he was actually a councillor) that the Darwen Academy should be built on this particular piece of land rather than in the town center ?
Correct me if I am wrong but did Mr. Huggill not suggest a few years ago (when he was actually a councillor) that the Darwen Academy should be built on this particular piece of land rather than in the town center ? Darwenwolf

10:26am Wed 26 Sep 12

Chrissy camel says...

Darwenwolf wrote:
Correct me if I am wrong but did Mr. Huggill not suggest a few years ago (when he was actually a councillor) that the Darwen Academy should be built on this particular piece of land rather than in the town center ?
No need to be corrected you are completely right!
[quote][p][bold]Darwenwolf[/bold] wrote: Correct me if I am wrong but did Mr. Huggill not suggest a few years ago (when he was actually a councillor) that the Darwen Academy should be built on this particular piece of land rather than in the town center ?[/p][/quote]No need to be corrected you are completely right! Chrissy camel

11:14am Wed 26 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

Perhaps he will be brave enough to tell the Telegraph about his DISREGARD of memory, after all it does seem that he likes making appearances in the local paper as much now as he did when he WAS a councillor !
Perhaps he will be brave enough to tell the Telegraph about his DISREGARD of memory, after all it does seem that he likes making appearances in the local paper as much now as he did when he WAS a councillor ! Darwenwolf

12:51am Thu 27 Sep 12

english rose 1 says...

Darwenwolf wrote:
Perhaps he will be brave enough to tell the Telegraph about his DISREGARD of memory, after all it does seem that he likes making appearances in the local paper as much now as he did when he WAS a councillor !
Simon Huggill is an elected Darwen Town Councillor for Marsh House Ward, - he isn't a Blackburn with Darwen Borough Councillor. The Town Council does not have any powers in regard to planning matters.
*
When he was a Borough Councillor Simon Huggill proposed that the Academy should be built on the Moorland site not this piece of land on Pole Ln.
[quote][p][bold]Darwenwolf[/bold] wrote: Perhaps he will be brave enough to tell the Telegraph about his DISREGARD of memory, after all it does seem that he likes making appearances in the local paper as much now as he did when he WAS a councillor ![/p][/quote]Simon Huggill is an elected Darwen Town Councillor for Marsh House Ward, - he isn't a Blackburn with Darwen Borough Councillor. The Town Council does not have any powers in regard to planning matters. * When he was a Borough Councillor Simon Huggill proposed that the Academy should be built on the Moorland site not this piece of land on Pole Ln. english rose 1

12:09pm Thu 27 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

english rose 1 wrote:
Darwenwolf wrote:
Perhaps he will be brave enough to tell the Telegraph about his DISREGARD of memory, after all it does seem that he likes making appearances in the local paper as much now as he did when he WAS a councillor !
Simon Huggill is an elected Darwen Town Councillor for Marsh House Ward, - he isn't a Blackburn with Darwen Borough Councillor. The Town Council does not have any powers in regard to planning matters.
*
When he was a Borough Councillor Simon Huggill proposed that the Academy should be built on the Moorland site not this piece of land on Pole Ln.
Apologies for the mix up with Mr. Huggills councillor status. I think that you will however find that at the inquiry into the academy he asked whether the land on Pole Lane had been considered.
[quote][p][bold]english rose 1[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Darwenwolf[/bold] wrote: Perhaps he will be brave enough to tell the Telegraph about his DISREGARD of memory, after all it does seem that he likes making appearances in the local paper as much now as he did when he WAS a councillor ![/p][/quote]Simon Huggill is an elected Darwen Town Councillor for Marsh House Ward, - he isn't a Blackburn with Darwen Borough Councillor. The Town Council does not have any powers in regard to planning matters. * When he was a Borough Councillor Simon Huggill proposed that the Academy should be built on the Moorland site not this piece of land on Pole Ln.[/p][/quote]Apologies for the mix up with Mr. Huggills councillor status. I think that you will however find that at the inquiry into the academy he asked whether the land on Pole Lane had been considered. Darwenwolf

6:20pm Thu 27 Sep 12

Darwenwolf says...

Dear english rose 1 I am now removing my above apology just as Mr Simon Huggills status as a ELECTED TOWN COUNCILLOR has now been removed from the town hall and hopefully the website. Just to set the record straight Mr. SIMON HUGGILL IS NOT AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE TOWN OR BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN COUNCIL. I will look forward to your return apology to me for your misleading comments beforehand. If you would like me to I can inform you of the current ELECTED councillors so that you are not hoodwinkled again by imposters.
Dear english rose 1 I am now removing my above apology just as Mr Simon Huggills status as a ELECTED TOWN COUNCILLOR has now been removed from the town hall and hopefully the website. Just to set the record straight Mr. SIMON HUGGILL IS NOT AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE TOWN OR BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN COUNCIL. I will look forward to your return apology to me for your misleading comments beforehand. If you would like me to I can inform you of the current ELECTED councillors so that you are not hoodwinkled again by imposters. Darwenwolf

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