RESIDENTS' fears are growing over the prospect of piecemeal development on Lytham land owned by Guardian Insurance.

They are concerned that the site on Regent Avenue which has outline planning permission for 410 luxury homes will be divided into plots by different builders and will lack any coherent identity.

Local anxieties about the site have escalated since Fylde planning committee on October 15 removed a restriction which committed potential developers to building a link road on the site before building the houses.

Now Lancashire County Council has taken overall responsibility for building the road, although future developers still have to bear the costs.

Residents fear smaller builders will be tempted to develop the most lucrative parts of the land while other less attractive areas of the site may remain ignored.

Councillor Beverley Harrison said: "Residents do feel very let down. The planning inspector and Secretary of State said, 'Thou shalt build a road', and now Fylde Borough Council has been able to overturn it in one go. I am very surprised.

"The biggest fear is of this piecemeal development and whether there will be much control over it."

Councillor Bill Green added: "My understanding is that the planning restriction was put in to stop piecemeal development and to make sure that the road was actually built. This is very sad."

A spokesman for Guardian Royal Insurance said: "We are not necessarily looking to dispose of the land in one parcel. We have to go with the right way forward and be relatively flexible."

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