ABOUT 300 new homes could be constructed in Longridge if the project is given the green light later this year.

A planning application for land south of Preston Road is set to be submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council next week.

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The scheme has been worked on by the family which owns W Monks building contractors in the town and the Forshaw family for almost two years.

The move comes after a plan was sent to the council by housing developer Taylor Wimpy for 195 homes in Dilworth Lane.

If the homes for Preston Road are approved by councillors later this year a number of retail premises could also be constructed on the site.

The latest plan for Longridge has been blasted by the borough’s MP Nigel Evans who said that the residents had had enough of large-scale developments.

He said: “Enough really is enough and I hope that the council’s officers recommend that this application should be refused by the planning and development committee.”

“Longridge is a small town and we do not want it enlarging and taking over communities surrounding it.

“Whenever I come to Longridge I speak to the local councillors and residents and they all tell me that they do not want this sort of housing estate.

“The core strategy is now in place and I hope that the council use that document to throw this application out.”

Applicant Bill Monk said: “We have been working on this plan for almost two years now.

“It’s not something that we have just pulled out of the air.

“Longridge is in need of new homes and this is one way in which it can get that.”

JWPC planning consultants in Lancaster is due to submit the plan to Ribble Valley council on behalf of the applicants next week.”

Stuart Booth, an associate at the company, said: “The applicants have been working on this plan for quite some time and we are hopeful that it will be with the council sometime next week.

“We have submitted what’s called a screening opinion to the council which determines whether an environmental impact assessment is required as part of a planning application.”