Chorley residents to fight green belt homes

Owners of the Yew Tree Farm in Coppull Hall Lane, Coppull, near Chorley, Jim and Barbara Woodcock have announced fresh plans to replace their commercial dairy with 150 homes.

Manchester-based JDA Architects have launched a public consultation to get feedback on the proposals from residents culminating with a meeting tonight.

To date more than 1,000 people have signed a petition against the plans.

A Facebook group, Save our Greenbelt at Yew Tree Farm, has also gained traction with residents since it was set on up on Saturday, November 19 - it has more than 1,000 members.

Chorley Labour councillor Roy Lees (Chorley South West) lives on Coppull Hall Lane which backs onto the land earmarked for development.

He warned that although the consultation is for 150 homes, plans drawn up by the architects show that they could be looking to develop up to another 300 homes on the site once they are given the go ahead for the initial build.

He wants to stop the developers in their tracks before they submit a planning application to Chorley Council.

“This is about protecting green belt land, this area is not in the local plan which goes on until 2026,” he said. If this goes ahead what’s next?”

Neither JDA Architects or owners of the farm were available for comment. Tonight’s meeting will be held at Coppull Community Leisure Centre, in Springfield Road from 5pm-8pm.