Plans for 'green' Blackpool homes submitted

9:40pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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Plans to build 640 eco-friendly homes in Blackpool have been formally submitted to the town's council.

Lytham-based firm Kensington Developments unveiled the £150million scheme in March and it could create up to 200 local construction jobs.

If approved, work could start on the site, in Marton, in 2009, with around 125 homes being built each year up to 2014.

Coun Peter Callow, the leader of Blackpool council, has welcomed the plans.

He said: “Government policy states we have to build more homes in the area, which is a problem because we don’t have much land we can use for new builds in the town.

“Kensington are a local company and they build quality homes and have done so in and around Blackpool for many years.

“I look forward to seeing these exciting new plans.”

The plans were made available for the public to view during an exhibition in March and bosses at Kensington say they were well received by visitors although some concerns were raised.

The issues raised included problems with access to the site, on land off Progress Way between Common Edge Road and Midgeland Road, and drainage. Work is now being carried out to tackle these.

A spokesman for Kensington Developments said: “This scheme is to be built with the environment and the impact on the environment as a top priority.

“The framework for the design will be fairly well set, but each area will be given its own distinctive characteristics to give it individual character.”

The submitted proposals include a village green at the centre of the site, as well as large areas of green open space, parkland, a shop and a pond.

All of the homes planned for the site would be fitted with solar panels and water conservation systems.