FRESH concerns have been expressed in Westhoughton over the town's ability to cope with a massive property boom.

The latest plan is for a 76-home estate on a former factory site.

Developers Valentine homes want to build the estate at Leigh Road, Westhoughton, on land where the Bellhouse Hartwell aerospace works stood until last year.

It brings the number of new homes being planned in the town to nearly 700. Almost 600 homes are planned for three sites where the former Carnaud Metalbox factory once stood at Chew Moor, Westhoughton.

Councillors and environmental groups fear schools, roads and doctors' surgeries will struggle to cope with extra demand over the next five years if thousands more people move into the busy town. Westhoughton North and Chew Moor councillor Jim Gilfillan said: "There aren't enough places in the primary schools to start with and the high school needs rebuilding.

"When you start to think about how many extra children 600 homes will bring to the area, it soon becomes clear that we will struggle to accommodate them in the schools."

But councillors are unlikely to succeed if they decide to oppose the plans because of government policy, said Cllr David Wilkinson, Bolton Council's executive member for environment.

Planning guidance states that 80 per cent of all new homes should be built on brownfield sites - land such as factory sites.

Cllr Wilkinson said: "The government rules are quite clear on new home buildings and developers are very able to exploit that".

The brownfield sites in Westhoughton were now starting to run out and Cllr Wilkinson said the council's Urban Development Plan would protect greenfield sites for 10 years.

Bellhouse Hartwell closed its doors in 2002 when 170 workers were made redundant and its work was contracted out to other firms.

During its heyday, the factory employed more than 300 workers and made parts for planes including Concorde.

The four planning applications are due to be considered by Westhoughton Town Council planning committee meeting tonight.