A residents group fighting to stop developments in the North of the city have criticised a planning inspector’s decision.

Redrow Homes have been granted outline planning permission to build 330 homes off Lightfoot Lane after a planning inspector overruled Preston City Council’s rejection of the plans.

The developers have now vowed to press ahead with more detailed plans in the New Year.

The Lightfoot Lane Area Residents’ Association (LLARA) have released a statement detailing their disappointment at the Inspector’s decision.

Simon Bond from the LLARA steering group said: “Llara (Lightfoot Lane Area Residents’ Association) and its supporters are obviously disappointed by the Inspector’s decision to approve Redrow’s outline application to build an initial 330 houses on Lightfoot Lane, rather than wait for the URS masterplan, commissioned by Preston City Council, due out in a few months.

“The vision of the masterplan, which has not even had its second phase of public consultation, was to plan and develop a coherent and phasing of necessary infrastructure for North West Preston, for this and the many other applications that are flooding in; to get the appropriate and proportional infrastructure in place before piecemeal developments commence, and to avoid lengthy disruption to existing residents.

“This approval to build, without any commitment to new facilities on site or before any new road is built. They will be using the existing road network which will cause further delays and traffic jams. It will in our view give rise to increased issues of road safety.”

Mr Bond said the group also had concerns over the fact the application runs through the Guild Wheel.

He said the group would continue to fight the application through the next phrase and “try to ensure the character of the lane is not compromised.”

A spokeswoman for Redrow Homes (Lancashire) said last week: “We are pleased that our planning appeal regarding a proposal to build up to 330 homes at Lightfoot Lane, Preston, has been allowed.

“We are now developing our proposals for the site with a view to submitting a reserved matters application early in the New Year. Our plans will deliver high quality two, three and four-bedroom family homes, including an element of affordable homes.

“Our proposals will also provide a financial contribution towards the provision of new infrastructure to serve the North West Preston area.”

Do you live in the area? What do you think about the Redrow appeal?