No green light for Greenberfield houses

A second planning application to build houses on a popular Pendle beauty spot has been refused, to the relief of campaigners..
Greenberfield LocksGreenberfield Locks
Greenberfield Locks

The plan out forward was to build 63 homes on land next to Greenberfield Locks in Barnoldswick.

It was unanimously rejected by councillors at the council’s Policy and Resource Committee. The decision to reject the application was moved by Conservative Coun Mike Goulthorp and seconded by Coun. Joe Cooney.

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West Craven Coun. Goulthorp said: “This application on this beautiful greenfield site was rightly rejected by councillors.

"This Conservative council is committed to finding viable brownfield alternatives to our green spaces and ensure we still have them in generations to come. That’s why we’ve begun work on lowering the housing targets in Pendle and promoting brownfield development across the borough.”

The tranquillity of the Grade II listed Greenberfield Locks in Barnoldswick has been threatened this year with the looming shadow, originally, of hundreds of new homes potentially being built overlooking the “jewel in the crown” of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The first application, which was rejected in January, had earmarked the site for more than 100 new homes.

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Barnoldswick Lib Dem Coun. David Whipp proposed that the application was refused on three grounds – impact on heritage, landscape and highways.

Coun. Paul White, leader of Pendle Council, said: “This Conservative administration is committed to protecting our green spaces. We’re promoting brownfield development and have re-purposed the Brownfield Regeneration Fund specifically for residential properties.

"We’ll build affordable and quality houses in Pendle, but we want to encourage them to be built in the right areas for our towns and ensure that local services aren’t overburdened by new developments.”