Ribble Valley objects to Cuerdale Garden Village
The authority has voiced its opposition to neighbour South Ribble Council regarding Story Homes’ application to build 1,300 homes and 1.7m sq ft of employment space.
Ribble Valley Council voted to submit a holding objection to the proposal at its planning committee meeting on Thursday. The objection will be sent to South Ribble Council, which has planning approval powers for the scheme.
Chief among Ribble Valley’s issues with the project is the fact Cuerdale Garden Village would be built on more than 400 acres of Green Belt. The village would also sit around the A59, by Junction 31 of the M6. Because of this, Ribble Valley also has raised highway concerns regarding the plan.
Other objections include the economic and environmental impact the garden village could have on the area. Ribble Valley also said that South Ribble does not have a demonstratable housing or employment need to justify such a massive development.
Story Homes submitted its outline planning application for Cuerdale Garden Village in May. The proposals include a primary school and a local centre, in addition to the homes and office. A 500-space park and ride area is also proposed.
The housebuilder said Cuerdale Garden Village would tap into growth opportunities from the £5bn National Cyber Force headquarters being built nearby. The HQ would have around 3,000 people working in it.
Story Homes estimates Cuerdale Garden Village could generate £225m a year for the South Ribble economy.
For those looking to learn more about Cuerdale Garden Village, the planning application number with South Ribble Council is 07/2022/00451/OUT.
Imagine the complaints against the aroma from Blackburn Wastewater Treatment Works once the east of this “garden” village is built!
By Drew
A ridiculous idea on our green belt land, totally out of keeping with the area. People working at Bae & Cyber are not local people therefore no housing needs are required… plenty of houses for sale in the surrounding areas in any case. The traffic along the A59 at peak travelling times is in comparison to the M6 going to Manchester, this was a rural area before Bae extensions and others moving in to that industrial estate, wildlife, trees have suffered not to mention air pollution. We do not want any more development in this area
By Nicola Sumner
@Nicola Sumner
BAE System is a major employer in the county, if they weren’t present in the Red Rose County, I think Lancashire would really decline. Its employees have to live somewhere.
However, there is a case for crafting sustainable extensions on to settlements plus planting biodiverse woodlands on greenbelt to provide green buffers between towns and cities.
By SW
Object against this
By Julie cooper