WIGAN councillors said they were adopting a ‘common sense’ approach as they defied their own officers’ advice to delay a housing bid.

The borough’s planning committee opted to defer a decision on outline plans for up to 830 homes in Atherton on Tuesday.

Following a site visit before the meeting, members said they agreed with residents that the location of an access junction on Leigh Road would pose a safety risk.

This was despite being informed the council’s highways officers were happy for the scheme to proceed.

Cllr Fred Walker told the committee: “The dilemma we’ve got is, everyone one of us who were there this morning (Tuesday) on the site visit felt there could be a much better alignment (of the junction).

“I’ve heard the professionals’ (advice) but sometimes professionals can’t see beyond their own noses.”

The bid for the land south of Atherton included access from Leigh Road, Bee Fold Lane and Crab Tree Lane and had been recommended for approval.

Cllr Walker, Labour member for Leigh East, said: “I know that is not the best site for access off Leigh Road. Common sense says we defer it for discussions with the developer.

“No-one is arguing about the principle of development, here. I haven’t heard a single objection.

“I think most of us could live with a simple realignment a little bit further down the road so there would be better sight lines.”

Earlier in the proceedings, resident Stephen Sanders said in addition to congestion and road safety fears, there were concerns about a high pressure gas main running along the southern boundary of the site.

He said: “If at any time this should fail due to the increased traffic movement, the consequences would be devastating and a national catastrophe.”

The committee was informed the pipeline operator had raised no objection and extra measures would be put in place to ensure it would be "protected during the construction phase".

It was the issue with the access points to the site, however, that dominated the later discussion.

Cllr Stuart Gerrard, Independent representative for Atherton, said: “We’ve got to put the residents’ health and safety first more than anything and I really do think this needs to be deferred.

“The access on Leigh Road and Crab Tree Lane…it’s going to cause mayhem for the residents and for the town itself.”

He later added: “I don’t want it on my conscience.”

Motions to refuse, defer and approve the application were each proposed but not voted on in a 20 minute period of back-and-forth during which members received legal advice.  

Town hall officers also reminded the committee that the council does not have a five-year housing supply and therefore there was a risk of the authority having to pay costs should the bid be refused and overturned on appeal.

But after being informed that the developer had suggested to officers prior to the meeting that a deferral would be preferable to a refusal because of cost implications, the committee voted in favour of the delay in the hope that "something can be done with the junction".

The motion was approved by eight votes to one. The application is expected to return before the committee later in the year.  

David Trimingham, managing director of Turley Associates, the planning agent acting on behalf of applicant Tarleton Estates Ltd, had earlier said the development forms part of the wider south of Atherton site.

He said the application includes "£1.8m for primary school places, 850k for off site recreational enhancements and almost £1m for local highway and footpath improvements".