PROPOSALS to build up to 58 homes on an industrial estate in Rainford have been approved.

St Helens Council’s planning committee granted planning permission on Tuesday evening for an outline application for a residential development, all matters reserved excluding access, on a site in Lords Fold, Rainford.

The application sought approval for the demolition of all the buildings and the erection of up to 58 homes, as well works to the existing access at the junction of Lords Folds and Ormskirk Road.

Planning officer, Melanie Hale, told members the applicant, Peter Mahood, has demonstrated that the site has been vacant for some time and is not attractive to the market for its current use.

“A change of use to residential in principle is acceptable. We believe and complies with relevant policy,” she said.

The two-hectare site is bordered by small starter workshops and a large coal yard to the west, residential properties to the east and open aspect green belt to the north and south.

Currently there are two occupied units on the site, Mahood Marquees and Bobby’s Foods. The remaining units are all vacant.

If approved, Mahood Marquees and the coal yard will relocate to a new site.

Ms Hale said Lords Fold currently acts as a means of access to the industrial estate, though it is also a public right of way.

She said the development would reduce the relatively large number of HGVs that currently use the site.

She added that there would be an increase in private parking.

Ms Hale told members the council has received eight individual letters of objection to the development, although no members of the public spoke at the meeting.

As one of the conditions for granting approval, the applicant has agreed to make an affordable housing contribution of five per cent.

This equates to either three homes or a financial contribution of £96,148.50.

Cllr Martin Bond, ward member for Haydock, welcomed the contribution.

He said: “Those colleagues who have been on this committee for the last couple of years will know that one of my hobby horses is affordable housing.

“So, I welcome the fact that on this application, there is affordable housing. We may come back to this subject later I suspect.”

Planning permission was granted subject to numerous conditions.