Green light for 300-home Great Eccleston development

Building work is set to begin shortly after a new development of more than 300 homes in Great Ecclestone was granted planning permission by Wyre Council.

The development has been put forward by Bellway Homes and Duchy Homes, supported by planning and development consultancy Lichfields.

The plans include a mix of 343 one- to five-bedroomed properties including 102 affordable homes, on a 35-acre plot on land at Copp Lane.

Outline planning permission was approved for the site for the erection of up to 350 dwellings, alongside 1 hectare of employment land, a medical centre, a school, village hall and convenience store in March 2022. The new community hub and employment uses will be the subject of future reserved matters applications.

The plans for a £44m residential investment project that is set to provide sustainable homes and contribute significantly to meeting the local need for good quality housing stock, were approved by Wyre Council via a delegated decision.

Building work is due to start onsite as soon as possible, creating up to 177 construction and in excess of 220 local supply chain jobs. Planners also forecast that dozens more jobs will be supported on the back of increased expenditure on local services and amenities when the first residents start to move in.

Clover Long, senior planner at Lichfields, who secured the approval, said: "Copp Lane will be a terrific development, creating a sustainable residential neighbourhood within walking distance of local schools, shops and healthcare facilities.

"It will undoubtedly contribute positively to this part of the local area and we look forward to work on the project getting started.”