Congestion at the Broughton roundabout has been identified as a key reason for rejecting new housing schemes

The battle lines between housing developers, communities and politicians look set to intensify this month as three big planning applications face rejection.

Proposals for just over 700 new homes in the North and North West of the city have drawn objections from local residents, parish councils and community groups.

House builders and landowners including Redrow, Hollins Strategic Land and CEG have submitted plans to build new homes in Lea, Fulwood and Woodplumpton but all three have been recommended for refusal.

Planning officers for Preston City Council have urged the planning committee to reject the plans which spread across three sites totalling 34.4 hectares of land.

The Hoyles Lane scheme for 350 homes, a primary school and a shopping area has been recommended for refusal because of the congestion on the road network in the area – which officers say would only intensify with the new homes.

Developers CEG Land Promotions face objections from the Wildlife Trust who say the ecology of the area needs to be surveyed first, particularly it’s bat population.

Lancashire County Council’s highways department has also raised an objection based on the lack of capacity on the A6/M55 junction.

Lea and Cottam Parish Could said: “The existing infrastructure is insufficient to cpe with the additional traffic likely to be generated from the proposed development.

“All efforts should be made to attract developers to the Cottam Hall site, rather than permitting partially isolated development away from the main residential conurbation.”

Council officers write in their summary on the Hoyles Lane plans that while it’s clear the scheme would increase the city’s housing supply – which needs to rapidly increase to meet demand over the next ten years – it puts too much strain on the local road network.

An application for Lightfoot Lane is also due to be rejected at the planning committee meeting on Monday 8 April, but it’s already set for an appeal to the planning inspector.

Developers Redrow Homes say their proposal to build 330 homes was not dealt with inside 13 weeks – as requested by planning guidelines – so a public inquiry will take place in July 2013.

A smaller scheme for 22 new homes on land to the rear of Our Lady and St Edwards Primary School, Fulwood, is also due to be refused.

It faces the same objections as the Hoyles Lane scheme in that the already congested Fulwood area would struggle to take the strain of increased traffic.

All three applications are available to view on the council website.

Hoyles Lane scheme

Lightfoot Lane scheme

Eastway scheme

Councillors will meet to make their decision on each scheme at the Town Hall on Monday 8 April from 10am.

What do you think about the three schemes? Do you live in the area? Let us know your views in the comments below