A BID for a housing plot in Tyldesley was among the applications determined by the council this week.

The final planning committee meeting of 2018 had a packed agenda with members also deliberating on four accommodation bids across Leigh and Wigan.

Councillors voted in favour of granting outline approval for land at Wood Street, Tyldesley, despite the town hall receiving more than two dozen objections from residents.

Concerns raised included congestion, disruption during construction works, loss of views and the removal of trees on the site.

The area is currently "largely unused grassland" and is bordered by the Leigh Guided Busway.

An indicative layout showing 24 houses had been provided by the applicant, Mr Stephen Daley, but that was not part of the outline application, members were told.

Access to the site off Westerdale Close was included in the bid and would cross an area of public open space, officers said.

But their report stated: “The application proposes that a larger, and more attractive and accessible area of public open space can be provided within the development, although the exact detail of such a provision would form part of a subsequent reserved matters application.”

A section 106 contribution would be required for "off-site amenity open space and play provision and the provision of 25 per cent affordable housing within the development", improvements to an adjacent public footpath have also been agreed.

Cllr Jeanette Prescott said: “I’m in favour of this because I like the idea that we’re not using the green belt.

"It is a small piece of land that is begging to be built on.

"It ticks all the boxes, I only hope other people look for grid-locked land like this to be used before we start building on areas of land that we don’t really want building on.”

Members voted unanimously (7-0) to approve the application in line with officer recommendations.