Families in picture postcard village protest against council over new homes that have ‘decimated wildlife’ to meet Labour government targets_Nhy
Families in a picture-postcard village are protesting against their council building new homes that they claim ‘decimated’ local wildlife to meet Labour’s housing targets.
Hundreds of new homes are being built in the small village of Feniscowles in Lancashire.
The controversial council scheme means that more than 400 properties are being erected on what used to be grazing land.
But locals are worried about the over-development of the area for housing, road safety, traffic generation and drainage.
And some claim the building work has even frightened the deer, foxes and hedgehogs away.
They say their narrow, rural roads are being pounded by an increase in traffic and their schools are overwhelmed.
The new houses being built between Darwin and Blackburn in Feniscowles
Resident David Jeal who lives in Feniscowles and objected to the plans
Ms Rayner, pictured arriving in Downing Street, told MPs new local housebuilding targets would include ‘an uplift where house prices are most out of step with local incomes’
The new estates being built on grazing land between Darwen and Blackburn are part of the council’s Gib Lane Masterplan.
In its Local Plan the council said the site between Gib Lane, Broken Stone Road and Livesey Branch Road has the potential to be a distinctive and high quality housing development that respects the surrounding landscape.
In response, David Jeal launched a Facebook campaign called ‘Feni says no more houses’ in which objectors to the plan can discuss it.
He believes that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has prioritised meeting government targets over protecting the countryside.
It comes after Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, confirmed the Government will revive top-down housing targets for local councils.
Prior to the general election, Labour pledged to deliver 1.5million new homes over the next five years.
Ms Rayner told MPs her proposed new method for calculating local housing targets will include ‘an uplift where house prices are most out of step with local incomes’.
Labour will overhaul planning rules to build the ‘biggest wave of social and affordable housing in a generation’, the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Ms Rayner said delivering the homes ‘at scale’ is her ‘No 1 priority’ after accusing the previous government of giving up on building.
Echoing the Chancellor’s warnings around the public finances, Ms Rayner said ministers had discovered a their ‘frankly scandalous legacy’ lurking ‘under each stone we lift’.
But Mr Jeal believes the flood of new homes has damaged his area.
He said: ‘All of the wildlife is gone. This used to be a corridor for deer and now it’s been decimated.’
He said that traffic between Darwen and Feniscowles is already on the rise as motorists avoid the busy A666 and M65.
The new estates being built on grazing land between Darwen and Blackburn are part of the council’s Gib Lane Masterplan
While the area’s good transport links are seen as selling points to developers, the existing roads need to be upgraded, he argued.
‘The roads just aren’t wide enough. The council has told us that the road needs lighting and a crossing but they can’t do any of that work until all the houses have been built.’
Last year, the pressure being placed by new housing estates on local schools was highlighted by Lancashire County Council.
County Councillor Jayne Rear, cabinet member for education and skills, said that, since 2017, just 358 new school places have been created in Lancashire.
Residents already living on the outskirts of the new estates in Blackburn also fear the impact of flooding.
John Marsden, who grew up off Bog Height Road, said that while he recognises for need for more housing, it’s ‘just not fair on the people who already live here’.
John, whose sister has lived in Bog Height Road for 30 years, said: ‘The infrastructure round here just isn’t good enough to cope with all these new houses.
‘They’re effectively connecting the new estates up to Oakdale and we all know how those plans were received. The roads here just aren’t up to scratch – someone crashed into my sister’s front garden just a couple of months ago..’
Residents already living on the outskirts of the new estates in Blackburn fear flooding
John Marsden, who grew up off Bog Height Road, said that while he recognises for need for more housing, it’s ‘just not fair on the people who already live here’
Several different developers have been involved in the new estates including Story Homes, Kingswood, Barratt and Taylor Wimpey.
Locals said many people won’t be able to afford the new homes, as prices at the Riven Stones development start at £259,995 while properties at The Sycamores cost between £309,995 and £409,995.
Mr Jeal, who has vowed to continue fighting against more development, said that while some are listed as ‘affordable housing’, they don’t offer a ‘realistic opportunity’ for people looking to buy their first home.
He said: ‘These aren’t first-time buyers. Working, young people can’t afford to pay £250k for their first home no matter what deposit scheme is in place.
‘Since interest rates went up the other year we’ve been seeing more and more of these new houses going up for sale because people are finding they can’t afford the increased mortgage payments. It’s just not realistic.’
A spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: ‘Lots of much-needed new homes are being built in the Feniscowles and Livesey area, which have so far been very popular with families from across the area.
‘Several long-term flooding issues were present before the recent house-building commenced, and it’s been great to see these being resolved as a result of the developments. Any new flooding issues arising have been pro-actively addressed by the developers, wherever it’s been due to the building works.
‘The various developments are all contributing funding towards the provision of additional school places, as and when they’re needed. So far, the existing schools in and around the area have sufficient capacity.
‘In addition, developer-funded improvements to roads, footways, crossings and bus stops are either complete, underway or planned.
‘We acknowledge that local residents in the area are facing disruption due to the construction of the new homes, and so we’re doing everything possible to work with the developers to ensure that disturbance during the construction period is kept to a minimum.’
