A PLANNING committee received a standing ovation for rejecting an application to build up to 100 houses in Atherton.

The application was rejected unanimously by the committee at a meeting that was packed with residents and members from the community group Aspect which was set up to oppose it.

Although fears had been raised over several issues including whether the surrounding infrastructure could handle an influx of people, the application was rejected on the basis that it had not been included in the core strategy.

The proposed site is part of a wider piece of land to the south of Bee Fold Lane that is safeguarded for future development and was considered for inclusion in Wigan Council’s core strategy that it adopted in September 2013.

It was excluded by the inspector as it was not seen as needed for the council to meet its housing needs but council officers recommended the application be approved despite this because other sites identified in the strategy had not been developed as quickly as hoped.

Committee member Clr James Grundy said: “We worked on the core strategy for what seemed like an eternity and the fact that less than 12 months after it was adopted we are looking at granting an exception would render the whole core strategy a dead letter.”

Others on the committee raised concerns that approving the application could see a ‘piecemeal’ approach to planning on the wider site that can accommodate up to 1,200 homes.

Barbara Constantine, from Aspect, said after the meeting: “We are absolutely thrilled. They have made the right decision.”

The council received objection letters from Leigh MP Andy Burnham, several councillors and 119 residents as well as two petitions with around 640 signatures in total regarding the application Tarleton Estates Ltd and Seddon Homes Ltd.

Sarah Jones, from Turley Associates which is representing the applicants, told the meeting that the application would provide much needed sustainable housing, 25 per cent of which would be affordable.

The conservative candidate for Bolton West, Chris Green, has also been supporting the group.

He said: "I am delighted that the campaign to protect Atherton from unwelcome building has been successful in this instance but we have to ensure that the community are protected from the 1,250 houses of the south of Atherton scheme."