A PROPERTY developer has lost its fight to build 72 homes on a Lowton farm.

Planning committee members gave Harwood Homes an overwhelming thumbs down on Tuesday after being told the plan could be approved OR rejected on justifiable grounds.

The company had wanted to build at Cheetham Fold Farm on Newton Road.

Assistant director of planning David Melling said members should give their approval if they regarded its location on a public transport corridor and availability of local infrastructure and services as proof of "sustainable development."

But they should reject it if they felt the site to be essentially "greenfield".

The applicant had argued that previous "uses" of the land - including horse-riding, storage and parking - were enough to constitute it being developed.

But Cllr Mark Hale, who has led to fight to stop the homes said: "I realize this is a very difficult issue and may well become a test case if it goes to appeal.

"But I recommend refusal because I believe the the government has been very brave in putting down rules and regulations to stop us developing greenfield sites, and there has been tremendous development in Lowton already."

Cllr John O'Neill agreed: "We are entering a dangerous phase now in terms of development and I think we should follow the government guidelines to protect our open land."

Cllr Tom Sherratt pointed out that Atherleigh Way bypass, designed to reduce traffic on Newton Road, had had little or no impact. And he said the area had already reached over-capacity in terms of sewerage requirements.

"There is now a crying need to reduce the amount of development in the area. On the whole we have absolutely no choice but to refuse."