RESIDENTS are being asked for their views on a controversial plan to build up to 1,685 homes on a former colliery site.
Hyndburn Council will open its public consultation on the proposed ‘Huncoat Garden Village’ on Saturday.
It will run until June 6 on a new masterplan for the development.
The blueprint, prepared by consultants Arcadis, will be available online with an exhibition about the proposals and a questionnaire at a special huncoatgardenvillage website.
The preferred Masterplan has been shaped by ideas from two previous public consultations and includes proposals for a new village centre, a new road, existing road network improvements and high-quality new homes.
The council plans promote the development off Enfield Road and Huncoat as a location within Pennine Lancashire where people want to live, work and enjoy.
However local residents have raised concerns about the scheme’s impact on roads and schools, as well as the survival of a butterfly haven which is home to 21 different varieties.
Mark Hoyle, Hyndburn Council’s head of regeneration, said: “I am really pleased the preferred masterplan will be available for people to see and have their say on.
“The feedback we have received since 2018 has shaped the journey so far.
“”Huncoat Garden Village is an opportunity for new high-quality housing in an attractive setting with community facilities, access to employment opportunities and vital improvement to transport connections. There are also proposals to develop open space and green corridors to improve wellbeing and village life for all.
“Due to the pandemic, the consultation process will be happening in a slightly different way. All the information is available online.
“Anyone who may struggle to access the online information can also request a questionnaire to be posted to them.”
Hyndburn Council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson said: “We really want to know people’s views on this before we draw up our final proposals. We are looking carefully at the environmental impacts.
“We are talking about more than 1,500 houses and a new £8million link road which we will need to bid for government infrastructure fund money for. This is an important development for the borough going forward.”
Cllr Marlene Haworth, leader of the council’s opposition Conservative Group said: “I think could be a big asset proposal for the borough but we must listen to the views of residents in the consultation.”
Article originally appeared on the Lancashire Telegraph.
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