Wigan Council ‘strongly objects’ to plan for 310 homes on green belt just over border with Bolton

Town hall bosses are opposing plans for 310 homes on green belt land on Wigan’s border.

The land earmarked for development by Keepmoat Homes is between Hindley and Westhoughton, close to Wigan Road, an old greyhound stadium and Hart Common golf course.

It is within the borough of Bolton, whose planning committee will determine the application, but borders Wigan borough.

Wigan Council has published an objection to the plans, stating the “nearest residential community lies immediately to the south within Wigan borough”.

Director of place Aidan Thatcher highlighted comments made in the transport assessment of the plans and said Wigan Council had a “strong objection to this proposed development, on the grounds that it is green belt”.

The objection said: “It is premature ahead of the intended formal consultation on your local plan, to be submitted before the end of 2026.

“The local plan will, as required, identify sufficient land to meet your five-year supply requirement and your wider plan period supply requirement, without needing this site to be developed.”

He added: “Given that the nearest residential community lies immediately to the south within Wigan borough, and that a number of local amenities have been identified there, it is not considered credible that traffic generation within the borough would be so limited as to justify the omission of any junction modelling.

“The absence of an assessment of junction impacts within Wigan borough therefore represents a significant concern.”

The proposed development site is three-quarters of a mile from Hindley railway station.

Westhoughton Town Council has also objected, saying the site “suffers from an inadequate highway layout in an area where speeding is already a persistent issue, combined with a severe deficit in public and social amenities”.

It added: “Furthermore, developing this land would create an impermissible physical link with Hindley Green, directly violating the published framework’s strict prohibitions against settlement coalescence.”

In a planning statement in support of the outline plans, Keepmoat said it had detailed the site’s “suitability, availability and economic viability as a housing allocation site”.

It said: “The representations also confirmed that the site could be deemed grey belt and should be allocated to meet Bolton’s development needs, and its release should be prioritised over other green belt sites.”