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Plans for a large residential development have been rejected after hundreds of people objected to the scheme. If approved, the proposals would have seen agricultural buildings on land south of Ancton Lane, Middleton, demolished to make way for 67 homes. The plans included a mix of detached and semi-detached homes, with six bungalows and the rest being two-storey houses.
Middleton Parish Council raised several objections to the plans, including that the site is outside the built-up area boundary. The council also argued it would harm the character and streetscape of Ancton Lane, amount to overdevelopment, and provide inadequate parking. Other concerns included harm to the privacy of neighbouring properties, harm to heritage assets, and the potential to set a precedent for more development.
Other issues raised included the lack of street lighting in Ancton Lane, leading to safety concerns for pedestrians at night. The proposal received a total of 525 letters of objection, echoing many of the concerns raised by the parish council and adding a few more. These included concerns about the impact on highways, with fears the development would cause severe disruption.
The single-lane sections of Ancton Lane, used by schoolchildren and horses, were also highlighted as particularly dangerous. Objectors also pointed to the loss of agricultural land, inappropriate green belt development, and their desire to preserve the low-density character of the village. The plans include 67 new dwellings (Image: AHMM Architects) The potential impact on local infrastructure was also a major concern, with objectors arguing the existing infrastructure is inadequate and no new infrastructure was planned.
Flooding and drainage issues were also raised, with fears of increased flooding due to land raising and existing inadequate drainage. The council's planning report highlighted several issues with the proposal, stating it would cause "substantial harm" to the setting and significance of nearby designated and non-designated heritage assets. Read next: Listed garage building will be turned into 'boutique' cafe It also noted the site was unsustainable due to future occupiers being reliant on private cars for journeys to and from the site to access essential facilities and services.
The report highlighted that the proposed development would result in a net loss of high-value agricultural land. Parts of the site containing built development are affected by known flood risk, the report said. The layout was also deemed unsympathetic and intrusive to important trees within and adjacent to the site, failing to ensure maximum visibility of trees protected by tree preservation orders.
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