Housing plan would be 'a disaster', says Wigan councillor

A controversial proposed new housing development has been described as “a disaster” by a Wigan councillor.
The demolished St Peter's Church and vicarage site in BrynThe demolished St Peter's Church and vicarage site in Bryn
The demolished St Peter's Church and vicarage site in Bryn

Coun Steve Jones said he feared that some of the 21 homes planned on the site of the former St Peter’s Church, in Bryn, would house drug users.

He said he would ensure the application is called to Wigan Council’s planning committee for councillors to discuss.

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Adactus Housing Association Ltd, part of the Jigsaw Homes Group, has submitted a planning application to the council for the scheme on the now demolished church site on Bryn Road.

The scheme will include 10 family homes and 11 supported living apartments, while there would also be parking, landscaping and access included in the development.

An extra apartment will also be built to accommodate staff providing support to residents.

The submission of the planning application comes after months of opposition and protests to the plans which were first revealed in a public consultation document in June.

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Coun Jones, who represents Bryn on the council, said the biggest worry residents had was over the 11 supported living apartments attracting people with drug problems.

He said: “We 100 per cent believe they’re still for drug users and I believe The Brick in Wigan will be managing the apartments.

“The houses for families we support but we have concerns over them being right next to 11 flats which we believe will house drug users.

“The residents in these apartments will be changing every four to 12 weeks so there will be a good 100 a year in them and it’s more like a halfway house where they can come and go, which won’t benefit them as they need long-term secure accommodation.

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“Supported living is a wide spectrum and it’s not clear what is meant by this.

“This application just feels like they’ve reduced the number of apartments from 28 to 11 and nothing has changed.

“We can only support this application if there’s a change of use so the flats are used for something else.”

He said an alternative use could be for domestic abuse victims, a mother and baby’s unit or for young adults with learning disabilities, all services which he said were needed in Bryn.

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He said: “I know they’ve mentioned about some of the flats maybe being used by victims of domestic abuse but why would you put a vulnerable woman in the same flats as drug users?

“So I’m 110 per cent against these plans which I think would be a disaster and I’ll be calling them into the planning committee.

“If they get approved and drug users are housed there, we will be carry on protesting until the use is changed.”

Planning documents submitted as part of the application said the apartments have been designed to provide a home for people following a crisis in their life.

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This could be through experiencing domestic violence or losing their home.

Documents read: “Having already engaged with support these residents will have been specifically selected for the accommodation by Wigan Council Lead Partnership Forum of local accommodation and support providers.

“In this regard residents will be provided with a home for a temporary period to gain independence before they move on to permanent accommodation. Support staff will be available 24/7 to ensure people are supported and safe.”

They added: “The other 10 homes are affordable homes which will be for general let at affordable rents for which there is an identified local housing need. “They are family homes providing two and three bed accommodation.

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"The proposals being advanced by Adactus Housing Association seek to bring forward affordable homes/ accommodation with an element of support for which there is an identified local need which needs to be met.

"The proposals will bring the application site back into use and will reinvigorate the frontage to Bryn Road.

"Moreover, it will aid the regeneration of a site which would otherwise remain vacant and be a potential magnet for further anti-social behaviour."

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