PLANS for almost 200 homes on a former theme park are to be shown at a public exhibition.

The proposals are for the former Camelot theme park in Charnock Richard, near Chorley.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The park was familiar to many in the area from family and school trips to the attraction from its opening in 1984 to its closure in 2012.

Story Homes, which had plans for 420 homes and industrial units turned down in 2014 amid much opposition, now plans to lodge another scaled down planning application in the spring.

David O’Reilly, land and planning director for Story Homes, said: “Over the last 18 months we have been working hard to create a smaller scheme for the Camelot site that responds to the comments we received from the local community during our previous application.

“We held a number of public consultations in 2016 and we have committed to not going higher than 200 homes across the site and we are now presenting our final outline proposals before we submit our outline planning application to Chorley Council in the spring.

“The former Camelot theme park is in desperate need of regeneration and we want to replace this eyesore with a high quality scheme that local residents and businesses will be proud of.

“Our original planning application was rejected in 2014.

“We made the decision not to appeal the refusal and instead committed to working closely with ward and parish councillors and the wider community to develop revised proposals that meet the aspirations of local residents and stakeholders.”

Drop-in exhibitions are being held on Thursday, March 16, from 4pm to 7pm at Charnock Richard Football Club, Charter Lane and on Saturday, March 18, from 11am to 2pm at Heskin Village Hall, Wood Lane.

The plans are for up to 195 homes and an area for employment use which could deliver around 80 jobs.

The employment area will be a maximum of 3,000sqm and would include an office and small-scale start-up office or workshops units.

These would be situated next to the existing employment units at Park Hall and the car park next to the site entrance.

Story Homes said the development would also deliver improved walking and cycling paths and open green space.

Visit storyhomes.co.uk.