Bolton: Watson Homes ask to delay Grizedale Close planning ruling

Watson Homes have submitted plans to develop 43 homes, including 35 flats and eight houses, on land off Grizedale Close, Smithills.

The plans were due to be brought before Bolton Council this week as the planning committee met, but Watson Homes has lodged a request for it to be postponed.

Cllr Roger Hayes, ward councillor for Smithills, confirmed to The Bolton News that the appeal has been made and says that requests of this nature are “invariably agreed”.

A decision about the plans has been delayed previously due to ‘amazing inaccuracies’ in the planning report.

Bolton Council decision on Grizedale Close plan delayed by 'inaccuracies'

Residents have now raised concerns about the effect that the proposed plans will have on the local wildlife.

Bridget Martin lives on nearby Great Marld Close and has been documenting species of animals and plants that live in the area. 

The hedgehogs that Bridget's neighbour found. She took them to a vet.

Bridget, a published wildlife author, said: “We are particularly worried about the wildlife.

“One of our neighbours was cutting some shrubs in his garden recently and found two hedgehogs. There are also four that I see regularly. There are lots of them round here."

Bridget took the two hedgehogs to Pike Moor Vets in Westhoughton where they checked them over and removed ticks and fleas before she took them to a neighbouring garden and relased them back into the wild.

There are also a variety of birds that nest in the area, as well as using it wildlife corridor.

She said: “It’s part of a wildlife corridor between Doffcocker Lodge and the moors. "Without wildlife corridors you get an oasis of wildlife traps which is really bad.

“It’s an important site.”

She added: “It’s almost entirely a greenfield site with lots of biodiversity. Why choose here when there are plenty of brownfield sites that would be ideal?”

The proposed site for the plans

Grizedale Close planning application re-submitted

Rob Watson, director at Watson Homes, said: “We have listened to resident concerns throughout the planning process of Grizedale Close, particularly those regarding wildlife and biodiversity.

"We value the protection of wildlife across all of our sites and take any concerns very seriously. We’ve worked closely with the council and ecological consultants to carry out relevant and rigorous environmental checks, ensuring we can take all necessary precautions to not affect local wildlife when on site.

"The site will also incorporate wild planting to further encourage biodiversity.

"Our commitment is to build affordable homes and create thriving communities which is what Grizedale Close could be, creating a new community that provides much-needed new homes for everybody.”

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