Urban Development
In recent years the town has seen three large housing developments: the first on greenfield land adjacent to the former Wesham Park Hospital (permission for which was granted only on appeal), the second with 208 houses on brownfield land on part of the hospital site itself and a third with 109 houses on greenfield land between Fleetwood Road and Weeton Road. The building work at the two most recent sites has yet to be completed.
An application was made in 2008 for outline planning permission for a development of up to 264 houses on another greenfield site, adjacent to the Biological Heritage Site at Wesham Marsh, north of Mowbreck Lane. The application was made by land-owner Metacre, a company owned by Blackpool Tower owner Trevor Hemmings, and caused much controversy amongst many existing residents, being viewed as a real threat to the rural character of the town. A pressure group was formed, several well-attended public meetings were held and a petition signed by over 90% of households was delivered. A Landscape Character Assessment has been carried out by the Lancashire branch of CPRE and an ecological survey has revealed the presence of the Natterjack Toad and the Great Crested Newt.
At the public meeting of the Fylde Borough Council Development Control Committee on 17 March 2010, the plan was unanimously rejected. In May 2010 the developer appealed against the decision, bringing the proposal before the Government Planning Inspector. The matter was the subject of a Public Inquiry which ran between 14 and 22 September 2010 at the United Reformed Church at Lytham St Annes. The appellant was represented by high-profile barrister Roger Lancaster. On 23 March 2011, it was announced that the appeal should be dismissed and planning permission refused.
On 11 November 2011 a further application was received, from the same developer, proposing a development of 100 dwellings, on part of the same site. Soon after, a new campaign to stop the plan was begun by the Wesham Action Group. A public meeting took place on 11 January 2012 at the Community Centre and unanimous opposition to the plan was strongly voiced. At their meeting on 12 September, FBC Development Management Committee refused the application. On 9 November it was announced that an appeal against the refusal had been lodged and that the matter would be dealt with by another Inquiry.
Read more about this topic: Medlar With Wesham
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