The RPG, (Regional Planning Guidance) targets state that 470 new homes be built per year in the Bolton Borough as a whole! Yet again, Westhoughton bears the brunt of development, which is frankly out of control. Amenities and infrastructure will and are struggling to cope.
SWAN estimate that planners – who allocate on a 5-year stock basis – have allowed outline planning permissions for 6 to 7 years of house building during this period. The 5-year target should be 2350 new dwellings for the Bolton borough; think just how many new houses have gone up in Westhoughton over recent years.
Developers are exploiting the windfall of 'brownfield sites' (formerly 'developed' sites) in Westhoughton, however, councillors and planners must stand up to this onslaught. Brownfield or not, targets are clearly being exceeded.
SWAN are arguing for a Plan, Monitor and Manage approach to development, i.e., knowing what's going on and making sure development is both sustainable and in the interests of the local community.
It is time for councillors and planners to stand up and be counted on this matter. Action, not words, is now required. Once out of the bottle the genie cannot be put back in... Targets rarely go down!
According to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) UK house prices are 30% above their long-term sustainable level!
… and here are the latest HM Land Registry average property sales prices in Westhoughton (BL5 post code) during the 2004 (whole year):
| Property | Average price | Sales |  |
| Detached | £189,765 | 215 | |
| Semi-Detached | £119,151 | 227 | |
| Terraced | £91,178 | 229 | |
| Flat/Maisonette | £58,617 | 293 | |
| Overall | £129,180 | 700 | |
This means that in 2004 in Westhoughton the property market was worth over £90m - with prices increasing significantly across all property types. Little wonder developers are showing such an interest.
Increases (BL5) over the period Q4 2003 to Q4 2004:
Detached: +42%; Semi-detached: +44%; Terraced: +45%. (Inflation c. 2%). Property prices in 92% of all UK towns are now beyond the reach of first-time buyers. Is this sustainable? Or is it madness? What if there were an economic downturn? (Rover, Littlewoods…)
www.swanonline.co.uk
