Plans for more than 100 homes in Barnoldswick to be decided

The application for 128 homes on land south of Long Ing Lane in Barnoldswick, near the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and opposite the Silentnight business, has been submitted by developer Seddon Homes.

Around half of the land is within the official ‘settlement boundary’ of the town, in planning terms, and is designated as protected employment land.

It was the site of a weaving shed linked to the former Barnsay Mill.

Over the years, different planning applications have been submitted for the site including for storage and distribution industries, with parking and road access.

The layout of the proposed new estate (Image: Seddon Homes/Pendle Council)

A previous housing application was submitted in 2020 by Seddon Homes for 129 homes, but that was refused by Pendle Council and then dismissed at a subsequent planning appeal, council records state.

Regarding the new application, councillors on Pendle’s Development Management Committee will look it at their latest meeting this month.

It has come to the development committee because it is a larger size with more than 60 homes.

Pendle Council’s West Craven Committee has already recommended councillors on the development committee to refuse the application.

West Craven councillors cited the previous planning appeal, and said the latest plan does not have ‘conclusive evidence’ to demonstrate the proposed drainage at the Barnoldswick site would not cause ‘elevated flood risk’ elsewhere.

However, Pendle Council planning officers are recommending approval with various conditions.

Officers say the new plan has a drainage system which is acceptable regarding flooding risks.

They also say six affordable homes will be included. Conditions include new bus stops, protection of existing trees and other measures.

A council planning report states: “The proposed homes would be mixture of detached, semi-detached and blocks of three houses, with 101 three-bedroom and 27 four-bedroom houses.

"The houses would be finished in artificial stone and concrete tile roofs.”

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust had asked for contribution from Seddon Homes towards the estimated cost of healthcare for the first three years of the development’s occupation by new home owners.

However, Pendle planning officers say evidence from the NHS body is not robust enough, in planning terms, to confirm that funding is directly-enough related to the impact of the new homes, and would be fair and reasonable.

Speaking ahead of the planning meeting, Mick Jefferson, Seddon Homes’ managing director, said: “The ambition from the very beginning was to create a community-led development that delivers for Barnoldswick and what local people need.

"Having worked closely with a number of consultees, we are thrilled that the site has been recognised for its merits and been recommended for approval.

“These proposals will address the local housing need whilst delivering a wide variety of community benefits. We are excited to move into the next chapter of the story.”