PLANS to build homes on green belt land in Horwich have been opposed by the town’s council.

An application for permission in principle to build two houses on land between Mill Lane and Gingham Brow, off Chorley Old Road, was lodged with Bolton Council last month.

But, at a meeting on Thursday night, councillors, including Horwich North East representative Cllr Richard Silvester, raised concerns about the plans.

He described the proposals as ‘inappropriate’, before adding: “I believe the development would be harmful to the green belt and would spoil the character appearance of the green belt and the West Pennine Moors.

“As the proposed site of the two dwellings is immediately to the rear of properties on Chorley Old Road, amenity and privacy would be compromised. The proposed dwellings would also overlook properties on Mill Lane, again compromising amenity and privacy.

“Access to the site would probably be from Mill Lane, which is very narrow at the point of the development site. I do not believe it would be feasible or safe. Access from Gingham Brow would also be completely unsuitable.”

In a letter sent out to residents in the area ahead of the meeting, Cllr Richard Silvester, described the application as ‘speculative’, and said that if approved, he believed further applications would be submitted for an enlarged site.

Mill Lane resident Steven Johnson also spoke out against the plans at the meeting, citing the fact the site in question was green belt land, and the impact it would have on the ‘multitude of wildlife’ in the area.

Cllr Robert Graham added: “I know this road very well, it is narrow and dangerous. It is totally inappropriate to build there.

40 letters of objection have so far been lodged against the plans.

Members of the town council's planning committee were in agreement with the comments made and voted to recommend the plans for refusal.