PLANNING chiefs are set to debate proposals for one of Bolton’s biggest housing developments in decades.

A special planning committee meeting will be held at Bolton Town Hall on Thursday to discuss an application from developers Horwich Vision that could see 1,700 homes built on the site of the former Horwich Loco Works.

Since the plans were outlined last year, residents have regularly raised concerns on issues, including the potential strains on the area’s transport infrastructure as well as provision for extra health and education facilities.

Other key issues raised by residents include provision for sporting facilities and fears about the potential contamination of the site.

The development, which would be known as Rivington Chase, would also include 20 acres of employment land and 50 acres of open space — including pedestrian and cycle routes.

It has been revealed that there are also plans for a 100-bed hotel to be built on the site.

Planning officers have published a report ahead of the meeting and Horwich residents believe their concerns are not being taken into account.

The report states that there are no plans to build a new school, but that £9.7 million has been allocated for education, which could see existing schools expanded.

There are no detailed plans on healthcare provision, but the report states the applicants propose to make “appropriate financial contributions towards healthcare infrastructure”.

Campaigners have been calling for more sporting facilities to be created in Horwich and many had hoped money could have been allocated for a facility on the site.

However, the report said there was no need for “formal sporting facilities”, adding that a single football pitch could potentially cost developers £1.6 million in terms of lost residential land.

When the plans were outlined initially, developers made assurances that several of the famous Loco Works buildings would be preserved to create a “heritage core” which could be used by the community.

The proposed refurbishment of the buildings will be phased into years eight or nine of the development, according to the report.

It also outlines measures for mitigating the potential effect on the area’s transport network, including improvements to the Beehive roundabout and the junction between the A6 and De Havilland Way.

Horwich resident Mick Stevens, aged 48, said: “I think this is a total whitewash. We thought we would be offered an olive branch, but it hasn’t happened. We have not gone one step further since the original consultation.

“I am particularly astonished there is no money being made available for sport, people in Horwich need to be catered for.”

Horwich Town Council leader Cllr Kevin McKeon said: “In terms of education and healthcare, the relevant bodies — the council and the NHS — have obligations to provide for people, so I have always been confident that will happen.

“In terms of sporting facilities, it looks like that won’t happen. I do think this is something that has to be addressed.

“The biggest issue of all is the transport network. I acknowledge that it is the most worrying aspect we are facing.”

The report recommends that the committee should delegate the decision to Bolton Council’s director of development and regeneration.