A new housing estate earmarked for a disused railway cutting is a step closer to becoming a reality.

Under the proposal 39 new houses will be built just north of Springfield Road in Kearsley along an empty space once occupied by railway lines.

Now that the company behind the scheme has lodged plans to clear the area of Japanese knotweed.

Cllr Debbie Newall, who represents Kearsley on Bolton Council, said: “I’ve always had mixed feelings about it, I didn’t think it was a good place to put houses, I never did.

The Bolton News: A total of 39 new houses are set to be builtA total of 39 new houses are set to be built (Image: Bolton Council)

“But when you look at the plans, its actually quite a thoughtful application, there are greenspaces included in it and at the end of the day it’s a brownfield site.”

She added: “The only thing that worries me is the access off Springfield Road so that was the main concern that people raised.”

The houses are set to be built in a row close to Kearsley Academy and follow on from a previous plan which had been lodged for 42 houses on overgrown land between Springfield Road and Bolton Road in 2018.

The Bolton News: An artist's impression of one of the new housesAn artist's impression of one of the new houses (Image: Bolton Council)

Developers said at the time that this would help regenerate an area that had become blighted with fly tipping.

On that occasion the plan was refused after concerns were raised about traffic and lack of parking spaces.

But now the new plans are set to continue, with the knotweed removal aimed at clear the way to make development possible.

A broad outline was approved after an appeal and plans in further detail were lodged last year setting out what the estate will look like.

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Cllr Newall says she accepts people will express a range of views and said that she has long felt that planning laws are weighted in favour of applicants and developers over people who may have objections.  

Cllr Newall said: “I understand that people would rather look at greenspace, of course they would, they’d rather have a space were they walk their dog.

“But we’ve got to work within the law and within the planning framework and unfortunately if you’re an objector you can’t lodge an appeal, only the applicant.”