Dear supporters,
We’re now in the final week to challenge the Fleetwood Farm development (12 Church Road, Banks – Ref 2024/1208/FUL).
Only two new objections have been submitted since the latest planning documents were added.
If we stay quiet, Fleetwood Farm – a locally listed 1787 farmhouse – will be lost forever and replaced with a generic housing estate.
If we act together this week, councillors can refuse or defer the proposal and push for a heritage-led, community-focused plan that actually benefits Banks.
📅 Deadline
Submit your objection by: Tuesday 12 November 2025
Likely Planning Committee date: Thursday 20 November 2025 awaiting confirmation
📧 Send your objection today on planning website only two objections so far
or Email (copy everyone in for visibility):
Planning Officer: nicola.cook@westlancs.gov.uk
Planning Applications: plan.apps@westlancs.gov.uk
Committee Services: member.services@westlancs.gov.uk
Ward Councillors:
Cllr Thomas De Freitas (West Lancs) – cllr.defreitas@westlancs.gov.uk
Cllr Thomas De Freitas (Lancs County Council) – thomas.defreitas@lancashire.gov.uk
Cllr John Howard – cllr.howard@westlancs.gov.uk 📞 07795 200514
Party Contact: chairman@southportconservatives.org
MP: patrick.hurley.mp@parliament.uk
⚠️ Key concerns to raise
Use or adapt any of these in your objection:
Heritage (EN4): Demolition of Fleetwood Farm (1787) without internal survey or conversion options = unjustified loss of a locally-listed building.
Biodiversity (EN2): On-site habitat loss; no named off-site BNG or 30-year S106; leaflet-only coastal mitigation.
Drainage (GN3): No full SuDS despite surface-water problems along Church Road.
Design & Character (GN3): Generic suburban layout; not heritage-led; ignores the farmstead form and village edge.
Green Infrastructure (EN3): Misses Banks’ last realistic chance for a small village square linking church, pharmacy & bus stops.
Highways & Safety (GN3/IF2): No audit of the pharmacy frontage (short-stay parking, deliveries, buses); no pedestrian-priority design.
Trees & Hedgerows (EN2/GN3): Protection/re-planting unclear.
Lighting (EN2): No bat-sensitive scheme.
Construction (GN3): No enforceable management plan for dust, noise, or deliveries.
Contamination (GN3): Former farm – possible asbestos/fuel residues not assessed.
Wastewater (GN3): Capacity/connection unproven.
Amenity (GN3): Possible overlooking & noise from parking courts.
Accessibility (GN3): No clear M4(2)/M4(3) adaptable homes.
Energy (GN3): Weak low-carbon design.
Maintenance: Who maintains SuDS/trees/open space for 30 years? Unclear.
💥 Likely effects if approved
Permanent loss of a historic farmstead central to Banks’ identity.
Missed opportunity for a village square or small community hub.
Greater flooding risk on Church Road.
More traffic conflict outside the pharmacy.
Net biodiversity loss locally; weak coastal mitigation.
Lower amenity and poorer accessibility for residents.
✍️ One-minute objection template
Subject: 2024/1208/FUL – Fleetwood Farm – Objection
The latest plans still fail on heritage, biodiversity, drainage, design and safety. They conflict with EN4, EN2, EN3, GN3 and IF2 of the West Lancashire Local Plan.
Please refuse, or at minimum defer, until a heritage-led redesign, deliverable BNG, funded coastal mitigation, full SuDS, and pharmacy-frontage safety audit are secured.
[Your Name, Address]
🏪 Local businesses – we need you too
If you own or run a local business and would like the chance to rent or buy small retail, studio or community units on this site if it were redesigned to include a village square,
please let Cllr John Howard know:
📧 cllr.howard@westlancs.gov.uk 📞 07795 200514
Tell him that your business would consider locating there if mixed-use or retail space were offered.
This helps show real commercial demand and proves that Banks needs local retail and workspace, not just more housing.
📸 Evidence strengthens every objection
Send:
Dated photos/videos of flooding or surface water on Church Road.
Pharmacy-frontage photos o traffic issues at peak times (8-9 am / 12-1 pm / 3-4 pm / 5-6 pm).
Old photos/maps of Fleetwood Farm any historic evidence that can show importance of the building
🗣 Speak up or support
Contact the Parish Council now if you’d like to speak at committee once date announced. Even a couple of clear local voices on the day can make councillors think twice.
This is our final week to protect Banks’ history and future.
Please send your objection today, share this email, and—if you’re a local trader—tell councillors you want retail and community units included in a better, heritage-led scheme.
please go on planning website below and review documents and provide objections to them on the comment option to them https://pa.westlancs.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SNVM8ARHLJC00
Together, we can save Fleetwood Farm and build something that truly serves our village.