A  scheme to build new houses over open land that has sparked two years of debate and protests could be set to change again.

Plans to build houses over land to the south and east of Meadowcroft off Longsight Lane in Harwood were first lodged in December 2022 provoking public meetings and protests soon after.

Now, letters from Bolton Council have gone out to people in the area saying that the plans have been amended and urging people to have their say.

Friends of Longsight Park chair Jane Wilcock said: “There is a new amendment for building an estate on these fields designated as Other Protected Open Land for 20 mainly expensive houses and a single lane carriageway between the two fields.

“If passed the area likely loses over 300 species recorded on the fields and the small site of biologic importance that is Castle Croft Harwood Vale is disconnected.

The plans aim to build houses off Longsight Lane in HarwoodThe plans aim to build houses off Longsight Lane in Harwood (Image: Emery Planning)

“The green corridor for mammals and people is lost.

“A public footpath, present on 1797 maps, and historic hedge bank field system will have a road besides it and at one point across the hedge bank.

“Longsight Lane, a shared highway and public footpath opposite Longsight Park will be busy, Harwood itself is traffic congested.

“In summary the planned estate is in the wrong place.

“We urge people to comment to object online because they enjoy nature when exercising.

“We hope the strategy the council had when designating OPOL fields, to protect our green spaces, will prevail.”

Shortly after the plans were first put forward a protest attended by residents and councillors was held on Longsight Park in January 2023.

Just days later more than 100 people attended a public meeting at Harwood Methodist Church to voice their concerns and coordinate opposition to the development.

The most recent letter to have gone out to residents was sent out in September of this year and advises interested parties to make their views known through Bolton Council’s planning portal.

An earlier statement from Emery Planning said that they hoped the development would be in keeping with the area’s character.

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It said: “The proposed development has been sympathetically designed to ensure that the new development will be in keeping with the character of the local area.

“The layout of the proposed development is landscape led to ensure that proposals will not have an unacceptable impact on trees and ecology.

“There would be no significant and demonstrable adverse impacts that would outweigh the significant benefits of the proposed development.”

The consultation is set to expire on Thursday October 17 this year.