Wigan MPs Urge Council Reject 338-Home Grey Belt Plan , Wigan 2026

Key Points

• Wigan MPs, including Lisa Nandy and James Grundy, have Wigan MPs Urge Council to reject a controversial plan for 338 homes on green belt land.
• The development targets previously developed land near Appley Bridge, raising concerns over traffic, flooding, and a lack of infrastructure.
• Officers recommended approval, but MPs highlighted “inadequate highways assessment” and potential harm to green spaces.
• Similar opposition is seen in nearby Stockport and Greater Manchester grey belt proposals, with residents protesting the loss of green areas.
• Council decision pending; no vote date confirmed as of April 2026 reporting.

Wigan (Manchester Mirror) April 21, 2026 – MPs from Wigan have called on the local council to reject a housing development of 338 homes on green belt land, citing serious concerns over infrastructure capacity and environmental impact. The intervention comes as planning officers recommended approval despite local objections.

Why Are Wigan MPs Opposing the Housing Plan?

As reported by Phoebe Jobling of Manchester Evening News, Wigan MPs Lisa Nandy (Labour, Wigan) and James Grundy (Conservative, Leigh) wrote a joint letter to council leaders urging rejection of the application by developer Homes by Honeycrest Ltd. “We urge the committee to refuse this application,” the MPs stated in their letter, emphasising that “the highways assessment is inadequate” and could lead to “severe congestion” on local roads.

The proposed site lies on previously developed land at Appley Bridge, near the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, classified as grey belt lower-quality green belt areas deemed potentially suitable for development under government policy. Planning officers argued the scheme aligns with national planning guidelines, noting it would deliver “much-needed housing” without significant harm to the countryside. However, the MPs countered that the development “would urbanise the open nature of the area” and exacerbate existing pressures.

What Infrastructure Issues Were Raised by Locals and MPs?

Residents and councillors have flooded the application with objections, totalling over 50, focusing on traffic chaos and flood risks. As detailed in the Manchester Evening News coverage by Phoebe Jobling, objectors warned that Appley Bridge Road, already strained, “cannot cope” with additional vehicles from 338 homes, potentially worsening journey times to schools and services. Flooding concerns stem from the site’s proximity to the canal and local watercourses, with past incidents cited as evidence.

Wigan MP Lisa Nandy stated, “This development risks overwhelming local infrastructure without proper upgrades,” while James Grundy added, “Residents deserve better than piecemeal planning that ignores real-world impacts.” Councillors echoed this, with one describing the officer’s recommendation as “tone deaf” to community needs.

How Does This Fit Greater Manchester’s Housing Crisis?

The row reflects broader tensions in Greater Manchester over grey belt releases to meet housing targets. In Stockport, opposition councillors criticised a separate 52-apartment plan for lacking affordable units, as reported in Archon News on February 10, 2026. “An incredibly frustrating illustration of the shortage,” said opposition figures, noting council house waiting lists up to 12 years.

Stockport’s draft local plan proposes 8,965 homes on 27 green belt sites, sparking protests over flooding, wildlife loss, and green space erosion, per Yahoo UK News on December 5, 2025. Resident Gillian Karle remarked, “The plan does not align with the national context,” highlighting executive-style homes on multiple sites. Wythenshawe’s 422 affordable homes plan offers contrast, part of a £500m masterplan, as noted in Secret Manchester on January 2, 2026.

Wigan’s case mirrors these, with councillors like David Evans questioning officer logic: “Why approve when evidence shows harm?” The application, submitted in 2025, awaits a planning committee decision, delayed amid MP pressure.

Who Supports the Development and Why?

Developer Homes by Honeycrest Ltd argues the scheme includes 112 affordable homes 33% of the total green spaces, and biodiversity enhancements. Officers deemed it “sustainable,” fitting Labour’s grey belt push for lower-quality land. No direct developer quotes emerged in coverage, but the recommendation stands unless overturned.

Similar to Stockport’s engine house conversion, where “substantial expenses” ruled out affordability, Wigan’s plan faces scrutiny for balancing growth and protection.

What Happens Next in the Wigan Council Decision?

No firm date exists for the planning committee vote, but MP letters have prompted review. Residents urge attendance at meetings, akin to Stockport’s consultations ending December 21, 2025. Campaign groups like Astley Warehouse Action delivered stop notices in Wigan, citing warehouse impacts near homes, as a parallel concern.

In related news, Wigan councillors rejected 80 grey belt homes despite officer backing, per Facebook community posts, signalling potential appetite for refusal.

Background of the Development

The proposal originates from Homes by Honeycrest Ltd’s 2025 submission for land off Appley Bridge Road, spanning 14 hectares of green belt. Initially recommended for approval in early 2026 reports, it gained urgency after MP intervention. Grey belt policy, accelerated under prior government housing drives, targets “poor quality” land for 1.5 million homes nationally by 2030, but local plans vary. Wigan’s local plan review, ongoing since 2023, seeks 45,000 homes by 2039, pressuring councils amid 10,000-unit shortfalls. Similar schemes in Greater Manchester, like Collyhurst demolitions for towers, fuel gentrification debates, as mapped in Common Wealth’s Gentrification Index. This site, post-industrial, was eyed for regeneration, but community pushback echoes regional patterns.

Predictions: Impact on Local Residents

This development could strain Appley Bridge residents through heightened traffic on narrow roads, potentially adding 600+ vehicles daily without junction upgrades, worsening commutes to Wigan or Ormskirk. Flood risks may rise if drainage proves insufficient, affecting nearby properties as in past canal overflows. Environmentally, urbanisation might reduce wildlife corridors, impacting biodiversity despite promised planting.

For families, new schools and GPs remain unaddressed, extending waits in an area with high demand. Affordable units offer relief for first-time buyers, yet infrastructure lag could deter uptake, mirroring Stockport’s 12-year lists. Overall, rejection might preserve green lungs but delay housing; approval risks service overload without mitigations, shaping voter priorities in Wigan’s 2026 locals.