Major housing plan submitted for Jimmy Nelson’s sports field

Gleeson Homes and Regeneration and Linkhaven Ltd have applied to build 106 houses on the old James Nelson’s sports field, an area bounded by Wickworth Street, Windsor Street, Priory Chase and Ash Tree Grove.

The field, formerly used by “Jimmy’s” football and cricket teams, has been out of use for years and was once linked to a possible centre for equestrian sports in Pendle but the idea never came to fruition.

In their heyday, sports teams from James Nelson’s were among the leading lights in Pendle, the footballers regularly vying for honours in the Nelson and Colne Amateur League and the cricketers doing likewise in the Craven League.

In November, the council’s Executive agreed to the sale of a strip of land at the rear of Priory Chase to Gleeson for £285,000 - the land will allow the prospective developer access to the site.

The application will be heard by the council’s Nelson Committee on January 30th.