A BURY wildlife haven, which was at the centre of a controversial homes development scheme, looks to have been saved.

More than six months have now passed since an application to build on the Barracks Lodge by Bolton-based Stately Development was turned down by Bury's planning chiefs.

During that period the developers have not acted and that means they have now forfeited their right of appeal against the refusal of planning consent.

Stately Developments had wanted to build a total of 16 homes on and around Barracks Lodge. The site has since been recognised as a Grade A Site of Biological Importance.

The lodge is well used by a rich variety of wildlife, including the legally protected Great Crested newt.

Bury Council's planning control committee chairman, Councillor Warren Flood, has welcomed the news. He said: "It is good news for Bury that the developers have abandoned their right of appeal.

"It is a very great pity that the local community and the council have been put to such great trouble in order to fight this very unsatisfactory scheme.

"At the end of the day it is good to know that the lodge wildlife is going to be left in peace."

However, campaigners are taking a cautious approach to the news and believe that, while Stately Developments remain the owners of Barracks Lodge, the wildlife haven is still under threat.

Ecologist Mr Mike Wellock, a leading campaigner against the homes plan, said: "I wouldn't trust Stately as far as I could throw them. They have been very sneaky in the past and have systematically attempted to destroy the lodge's ecological system.

"Time may have lapsed on their right to appeal against the refusal of the scheme but there is nothing to stop them putting in a fresh application for the area."

The Bury Times contacted Stately Developments and asked whether the firm had abandoned all plans to build on the Barracks Lodge site.

At the time of going to press the company had not replied, despite promising to respond to our questions.