THE long-awaited blueprint for one of East Lancashire’s biggest-ever housing developments has been published outlining a green future for residents.

The controversial Huncoat Garden Village Masterplan promises to build 1,504 new homes in the next 15 years with another 312 after 2036.

The detailed document - which includes the first images of how the scheme and its mainly family housing will look - is set to be approved by Hyndburn Council’s cabinet on Wednesday.

The £100million-plus project - built around the existing village and the former Huncoat colliery and power station site - pledges to protect bio-diversity and a butterfly haven.

Lancashire Telegraph:

A visualisation of Huncoat Garden Village

It includes a new village centre with local shops and community buildings.

The masterplan proposes a new road linking Huncoat Garden Village directly with the A56, the expansion of Huncoat Junior School and improvements to the railway station.

It includes 100 acres of improved open space including 60 acres of safeguarded land for a potential Biological Heritage Site including the original colliery site, currently a haven for 21 species of butterfly.

It proposes a new 11-a-side 4G football pitch with flood lighting and a nine-a-side grass pitch, seven formal play areas and seven informal play areas.

The blueprint seeks to create six separate and distinctive ‘character areas’.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Cllr Miles Parkinson, leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “This is going to be a game-changing project for the borough at the cutting-edge of environmental and green technology.”

Cllr Marlene Haworth said: “This is a wonderful idea provided it is built as the masterplan sets out.”

Originally proposed in 2017 as a mixed employment and housing development with 2,000 homes the scheme was hit by controversy over the butterfly haven, roads and schools before its finalisation was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The masterplan says: “Huncoat Garden Village is a strategic scheme for Lancashire and one of the largest housing developments in the northwest.

“Hyndburn aims to be a distinctive, prosperous and vibrant area of Pennine Lancashire, recognised for the attractiveness of its market towns and landscape setting.

“The council is seeking to stimulate sustainable economic growth and housing renewal to tackle the historic trends of deprivation and provide a much sought-after lifestyle with high-quality housing and skilled jobs.

“It will include a range of measures to reduce energy and water consumption; use sustainable materials and be resilient to the potential impacts of climate change

“There is significant opportunity for the carbon emissions to be mitigated through design.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

A report to Hyndburn Cabinet by Mark Hoyle, the borough’s head of regeneration and housing, says: “Huncoat Garden Village forms a major part of the council’s growth plans including a genuine and once in a lifetime opportunity to provide new housing in a fabulous landscape setting.

“The garden village is a game-changing opportunity.

“Huncoat will be an exemplar of national significance for creating new, sustainable garden communities.

“At a critical point with the need to respond to climate change, the masterplan is clear that when planning for the new housing everything must be done to protect the environment.

“The masterplan sets a framework for the highest possible standards in protecting Huncoat’s rich natural environment including the protection, conservation and enhancement of existing habitats.

“The masterplan sets a framework for sustainable design and construction essential in making positive steps to carbon zero.”

The Hyndburn Butterfly Project, declined to comment until it has studied the new masterplan in detail.