Outline planning application submitted for new housing development on former Woodlands Conference Centre site

Chorley Council has submitted an outline planning application for a new 97-home residential development on the former Woodlands Conference Centre in Chorley.

As part of the proposed development, 30 per cent of the homes will be affordable housing, helping to meet local household needs and ensuring a mix of homes for people in the borough.  

 Located in a well-connected area, with good transport links, the site presents an opportunity to bring back the space to active use, supporting the delivery of high-quality sustainable homes.  

 In addition to the proposed residential development, the land to the east of the site has been reserved for alternative use, with the intention that it will accommodate a mix of education and employment use, contributing to the area’s long term social and economic development.

The council bought the site to make sure that the land will be used in a way that delivers long-term benefits for the borough – creating educational and employment opportunities for future growth to support and benefit the local community.

Gayle Wootton, director of property and planning at Chorley Council, said: “This development represents a positive step forward in delivering much-needed new homes in Chorley, including affordable options for residents.  

 “By making effective use of a brownfield site, Chorley Council is helping to meet housing demands in a sustainable way, while also allowing flexibility for future uses of the wider area.”  

 This is an outline planning application, meaning details of the layout, designs and access will be addressed in future planning applications, subject to approval.  

 Should the application be approved, the council intends to sell the site to a private housebuilder who will develop the plans in line with the outline permission, ensuring delivery of the proposed scheme in a timely and efficient manner.  

 The application in now available to view on chorley.gov.uk/planningapplication and search for reference number 25/00476/CB3MAJ in the planning portal.