Housing scheme near Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone is approved

BAK Building Contracts scheme is part of wider housing vision for site

Plans for a major new housing development close to Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone have been given the go ahead – subject to a number of stipulations.

The proposals for 60 new homes have been conditionally approved by Fylde Council’s planning committee and will form part of a wider housing project on the which could bring a total of around 500 new homes to the edge of Blackpool via different developers.

Applicants BAK Building Contracts Ltd were seeking full planning permission for the development of the 60 homes with associated landscaping and infrastructure, on a site located at the junctions of School Road and Bambers Lane.

The location is listed as being Westby with Plumptons but is on the border with Blackpool and close to Squires Gate. It is part of the so-called ‘HSS5 site’ where plans for 45 homes and 58 homes have already been approved, and a bigger development of 350 homes is still pending.

Councillors granted permission for this scheme but delegated te final decision to planning officers for conditions and s106 agreement, stipulating that the applicants must secure the payment of a sum of £50,000 to the local highway authority to be used towards public transport, pedestrian / cycle connectivity or other highway related matters.

The officer’ report stated : “The application is submitted for full planning permission for the development of 60 dwellings.

“The application was originally submitted in 2019 and has been delayed primarily due to significant issues relating to water management, access and viability. These issues have evolved over the lifetime of the application, which is reflected in changes to the proposals.

“Notably, the scheme was originally for 142 dwellings but is now for 60 dwellings, reflecting the reduction in net developable area of the site which is down to 45% of the overall site area.

“The application has also been complicated by different parcels of the wider allocation being under different ownership and being managed by different consultant teams.

“In the time since the submission was made Officers have worked closely with the applicants and consultees to progress the proposals to this point.

“This is particularly important given that the site is allocated for housing development and so its delivery is beneficial in light of the fact that the Council cannot currently demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply.”

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