Outline plan for Arthur Lane, Harwood homes goes to vote

The outline plan proposes building the 80 new homes on land off Arthur Lane in Harwood that had previously been used for grazing.

But 218 letters of objection from people living nearby have been sent to Bolton Council ahead of a vote on the scheme by the planning committee.

A council report said: “The site is located north of Arthur Lane on the eastern edge of Harwood, which is itself on the northeastern urban edge of the Bolton urban area.

“The site covers approximately 2.47 hectares of land across two agricultural fields for grazing purposes and the terrain of the site is generally flat with a gentle slope down from west to east.

Bolton Council officers have recommended that the plan be approved (Image: Rowland Homes)

“The site has limited intrinsic habitat or landscape value and is also private land that is fenced and walled on all sides, which limits any existing recreation value.”

It added: “The site is enclosed on all sides by strong and defensible boundaries including Harwood Golf Club car park to the north, Arthur Lane to the south, existing detached properties on Roading Brook Road and the golf club access road to the east, and existing residential development to the west.

“The east, west and north boundaries also include significant existing hedgerows and tree screening, combined with sections of post and wire fencing, with a dry-stone wall and timber fence along the southern boundary.”

The report said that the are could be considered “grey belt” land and that the proposed housing scheme “would not fundamentally undermine” the purposes of other green belt land in Bolton.

Council officers have recommended that the outline plans be approved, subject to conditions.

But Bradshaw’s Cllr Jackie Schofield has asked for the proposal to be heard at a full planning committee meeting.

Letters of objection have raised concerns about the loss of green belt land, the development being out of character with the area, the pressure on existing facilities and many others.

The planning committee is expected to vote on the outline plans at a town hall meeting on Thursday March 26.