A HERITAGE group has said ‘fundamental flaws’ remain in plans for 393 homes on the site of the former Horwich Loco Works.

Morris Homes have resubmitted plans to Bolton Council for the huge estate which is out for public consultation at the moment.

The Morris application is part of the Rivington Chase development on the site of the former Horwich Loco Works.

The £200million vision intends to provide 1,700 homes on the former industrial land.

In August, planning permission was granted for a link road, which will link Horwich town centre and Chorley New Road to Middlebrook retail park, Horwich railway station and the M61, via Rivington Chase .

The road was said to be crucial for improving access to the site and relieving pressure on other congested roads in the area.

However, Horwich Heritage, who are an interested party in the development say they will be objecting to the revised plans citing concerns about the road access to the Morris element of the estate which they claim will leave

’50 houses with vehicular access onto a major through route’.

Stuart Whittle, from Horwich Heritage, expanded on the group’s concerns.

He said: “Despite the extensive criticism of the previous application, I am astonished to find that very little has changed in the intervening 12 months .

“This means that the fundamental flaws we objected to in July 2019 still remain.

“It is impossible for this whole development to function properly if the main access through the Morris Homes site is not designed to the same standard as the £12m access road which will run east-west through

the rest of the Rivington Chase site.

“This is to be tree lined and will include segregated footpath and cycle routes.

“To have over 50 houses with vehicular access onto a major through route is not only a recipe for disaster in safety terms but it will totally eliminate the segregation of the main footpaths and cycleways.

“There can be no justification on highway grounds for downgrading this western section of the main access route when the same traffic flows will operate throughout the site.

“If Morris Homes have a problem accommodating a main access road designed to the same standard as the £12m section then this issue needs to be urgently addressed by the council and the landowners Network Rail.

“Their current proposals as they stand are totally unacceptable.”

Mr Whittle said that Horwich Heritage will be submitting a formal objection to the application before the consultation deadline ends next week.