Major golf course housing scheme lined up for approval

Detailed plans to build almost 300 homes at a golf club have been lined up for approval.Northstone Development Ltd is behind the scheme at Horwich Golf Club which will be considered by Bolton Council’s planning committee on Thursday 29 September.The developer has submitted a reserved matters application following the approval of outline plans at an appeal in September last year. It means the principle of erecting up to 276 homes on the site has been granted, as have the three vehicular access points into the development.A section 106 Agreement for the provision of affordable housing and open space within the development has already been signed at outline stage. The agreement includes contributions towards secondary education, and improvements to Old Station Park, the Beehive roundabout and on Victoria Road.The application is now going before the committee owning to the number of objections received, according to a council report due to be considered by Bolton planners.Matters now being applied for are layout, appearance, scale and landscaping.The application is currently only applying for phases one which includes 179 homes and two which features 29 homes of the overall scheme.The application site measures 40 acres and comprises the nine hole golf course at Horwich Golf Club, a section of agricultural land and a property at Victoria Road.A total of 42 objections have been received, including from Stocks Residents’ Association, which raise concerns including loss of green space and the development being “out of keeping with the character of the area”.However, the report recommends approving the application subject to conditions.”It is considered that the development proposed within this reserved matters application is fully compliant with all relevant polices and therefore members are recommended to approve this application,” the report added.