The former Harris Orphanage on the Harris Knowledge Park

Plans to develop a listed building site in Fulwood face objections from conservation groups and local residents.

The owners of the Harris Knowledge Park have applied to the city council for permission to build three new homes on the site off Garstang Road.

Formerly the Harris Orphanage, it is owned by Harris Park Ltd – run by multi-millionaire property mogul Yousuf Bhailok – who also want to add extensions to existing properties on the site.

Plans from the Cassidy and Ashton Group Ltd show extensions to the back of four detached grade II listed villas on the north side of the village green inside the former Orphanage.

An open field would be built on to create the three large modernist houses.

Documents to the city council’s planning committee state “the proposal is bold and contemporary, using modern building form, shape and design, similar to the style of the proposed extensions but each dwelling adopting its own rationale and inspiration which creates three large individually designed houses.”

These would be between 1595sqm and 1718sqm and create a gated family community with the three homes dubbed the White House, the Orchard House and the Air House.

The Victorian Society have strongly objected to the proposals saying “it would cause substantial harm to the character and significance of several designated heritage assets in the form of the registered park and garden, conservation area and numerous listed buildings.”

They say the whole site is a “rare and impressive example of its type and includes twelve listed buildings.”

Lancashire County Council’s archaeology team have said they consider the scheme to be an “over-development of the designated heritage assets.”

41 letters of objection have been received and a petition of 40 signatures from the residents at Orchard Court has also been handed in.

Previous planning applications for the Harris Knowledge Park have all been rejcted, with constant applications since in 2009 all being knocked by by councillors.

Despite the objections, council planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval – provided a section 106 agreement puts a Heritage Management Plan in place for the whole site.

You can view the full plans on the council website.

Councillors will meet at the Town Hall from 10am on Monday 30 September to discuss the plans.

What do you think about the proposals? Should they be allowed or not? Let us know in the comments below