On 29 September, Preston’s Planning Committee threw out the plan to build 164 houses on the golf course, between New Rough Hey, The Avenue and Sheraton Park, after a strong case for rejection had been put by Councillor Pauline Brown.

The grounds for rejection were that the Planning Committee believed the development would result in an unacceptable loss of open space, and that the developers had failed to demonstrate the land was surplus to requirements.

But unfortunately, Northern Trust and Rowland Homes are not prepared to accept the democratic decision of Preston Council, and are now going over the heads of local people and their councillors to try to overturn the decision.  On 24 October, they appeared before the Planning Inspector at a hearing regarding part of the Local Plan which has been accepted unanimously by Preston Council, and to which the only objection has been by – guess who – Rowland Homes.

Preston City officers strongly defended the Plan, which would prevent any building on any part of the Golf Course for at least the next 15 years – but we’ll have to wait a few months to see whether the Inspector agrees.  Meanwhile, we expect Rowland Homes will make another back door approach to try to get the Planning Committee’s decision overturned on appeal.

Lib Dem Ingol councillors at Ingol Golf Course

Your local councillors believe very strongly that unelected Inspectors, Whitehall Civil Servants and Westminster MPs should NOT be allowed to over turn the planning decisions of our city council. That is one of the many reasons why we support ‘localism’, and why we want to see the handing back of powers to the cities and regions.  If it’s good enough for Scotland…!