Green light for two homes on 'haven for nature' plot of land

A patch of land in the South Ribble greenbelt - which sparked a police probe after it was excavated without permission - is to become the site of two self-build homes.

- by Paul Faulkner

The plot, on Hall Lane in Longton, was painted by locals as being a haven for nature before it was subject to what a councillor described as “ecological destruction”.

A meeting of South Ribble Borough Council's planning committee heard the site had been cleared prior to being purchased by the applicant who was seeking approval for a pair of five-bedroomed detached properties.

Nevertheless, the history of what was once former railway-owned land-which developed naturally into a diverse habit during the 30 years it has been disused - dominated the debate about whether what was now being proposed should be allowed.