Greenbelt sale sparks development fears
21/06/2007 (source: The Bolton News)
A swathe of greenbelt land has been sold off - sparking fears among residents that developers are waiting to move in.
Twelve lots of countryside land, worth a total of £1,260,000, have been snapped-up in Chew Moor and Westhoughton. More than 130 acres of land, divided into thirteen lots and attached to Morris's Farm, in Pocket Nook Road, were put up for sale by surveyors, P Wilson and Company (PWC).
Twelve have now been sold, according to a letter from the firm received by a local resident. PWC would not confirm whether lot one - which includes a five-bedroom farmhouse - had also been sold. It is valued at £750,000 and has planning permission attached to build four houses.
Residents in the rural surroundings fear that there is a property developer behind the purchases.
Pensioner, Denis Kirkman, said: "We are very concerned that these are plots of building land. It wouldn't be the first time we've seen scope for development on local greenbelt."
Developers are accused of flooding nearby green space with new properties.
Paul Wilson, of PWC, would not confirm how many purchasers are involved. He said: "There's no intention for that land to be developed in the foreseeable future. If planning consent could be gained it would all be developed."
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