By Tony McDonough
Developer Oakwood Homes faces a further wait on whether its plan to build 34 new ‘luxury’ homes can go ahead.
Oakwood was hoping the planning committee at Sefton Council approved its development, to the rear of 34 Lynton Road in Birkdale, at its last meeting in late June. However, councillors have voted to defer the decision to gain further information on viability and on the improvements considered necessary to the junction with Waterloo Road.
This scheme would see a mixture of three, four and five bedroom “high quality” homes. It is close to Hillside Golf Course, Royal Birkdale Golf Club and Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, as well as Hillside Train Station. It would be known as Fairway Park.
Planning officers had recommended that councillors should grant approval. In a report, they said: “The site is allocated for housing within the Sefton Local Plan.
“The main issues to consider include the principle of the development, its design and impacts on the character of the area, living conditions, highway safety, ecology, trees and flood risk.
“The proposal complies with adopted Development Plan policies and, in the absence of any other material considerations, the application is recommended for approval subject to conditions.”
The application has been subject to two petitions during the planning application process, endorsed by Cllrs Shaw and Brodie-Browne respectively.
Objections received include that the site is Green Belt land and a SSSI and should not be built upon; could become an additional burden on the existing infrastructure and services; and that there would be too many houses for the size of the site.
The scheme would utilise land alongside the Merseyrail Northern Line between Southport and Liverpool, near to Hillside Railway Station, which has previously been used as a landing base by Network Rail.
This land was previously identified in Sefton Council’s Local Plan as an area suitable for new housing development. The scheme would also involve the demolition of 34 Lynton Road to create a new vehicle access from Lynton Road.
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