Cottam is one of the areas identified to potentially build new homes

A plan to build up to 4,000 new homes on Preston’s north-western edge are to be consulted on.

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Preston City Council is currently drawing together a “masterplan” for how the city can expand and has identified the area around Broughton, Cottam, Woodplumpton and Bartle for development.

New homes could be built as soon as Lancashire County Council finishes major infrastructure projects – including the works to the Broughton roundabout and its proposed Broughton bypass.

Councillor John Swindells, deputy leader of Preston City Council, said they wanted to avoid a “hotch potch” of housing.

He said: “As a city Preston needs to develop. We need new homes, offices, businesses and of course more jobs. North West Preston is really the only area of the city that has the potential for the significant amount of major new housing development that we need. It is a nice place to live and developers are keen to build there.

“What we don’t want though is a ‘hotch potch’ of housing and other developments. We need a proper plan that delivers the best possible development in this area.

“We have to think about roads and transport, schools and doctors, parks and green spaces. We also have to think about the type of homes that should be built – affordable, family homes for example.

“The master plan will set the framework for future development, not just covering new homes but everything else that goes with that, such as access to green spaces and transport.”

The events will take place at Ingol Golf Club, Tanterton Hall Lane, Preston, PR2 7BY.

The first is Friday 12 July from 2pm to 8pm and on Saturday 13 July from 10am to 2pm.

Consultants URS have been drafted in by the council to assist with the master plan, as currently development to the north of the city has flatlined.

The area is congested and its transport network gridlocked, and it faces strong local campaigns against further development of the area – although this varies greatly between some areas of Cottam where some development is supported, to Fulwood where development is resisted along the Lightfoot Lane corridor.

Anyone unable to attend the consultation events can give their views to Mark Phillips at URS by emailing mark.phillips02@urs.com or calling 0161 237 6020.

What do you think about the masterplan? Do you support concentrated house building or the more hotch potch approach? Let us know in the comments below

Image credit to Tony Worrall