TWO major planning applications are set to be debated at Wigan Town Hall tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday.

Wigan Council's planning committee will discuss proposals to build 830 homes west of Bee Fold Lane in Atherton and plans to construct Maxilead Limited's new metal scrapyard north of Chanters Industrial Estate.

The housing development has attracted objections from Leigh MP Jo Platt, Bolton West and Atherton MP Chris Green, Atherleigh councillor Mark Aldred, former councillor Pamela Stewart MBE as well as 60 letters from residents.

The reasons for the objections include building on greenbelt land when there are brownfield sites available, the impact of developing on an old mining area and the land's value for recreation and sporting activities.

Conservation group ASPECT (Atherton South Preservation Ecology Community Team) has also expressed concerns in the development about the building of a link road above a National Grid high pressure pipeline.

The Maxilead application was approved by the planning committee in January.

The company is set to move from its existing Parr Bridge Works base in Tyldesley, which will be replaced by a 154-home development that will include building three restaurants or cafes, three shops, one nursery, a health centre and a gym.

But the local authority asked Maxilead to revise its plans to reduce the impact of the noise and to make the site more accessible.

It was originally set to be built three metres below ground level but plans have been amended to construct the development close to the land's existing level.

One of the site's buildings will also be reduced in size so it is further away from houses on Douglas Road.

The new application also includes creating a new section of road running northwards from a new junction with Arley Way.

The road will be designed to access land north of the application site when a development is situated there in the future.

There will be a Maxilead site entrance from this new road.

There have been 19 objections sent to the council about the application including one from Chris Green, who called on the council to "rescind its planning approval” due to noise pollution earlier this year.

Other concerns aired by residents highlight air and light pollution, traffic and a possible loss of common land.