A DEVELOPMENT giant has once again launched plans to build 276 houses at a golf course ­— despite the firm’s last set of proposals being thrown out by a government inspector.

Building company Peel L&P has put ‘revised’ plans to Bolton Council for housing at Horwich Golf Club — just months after a proposal to build 300 homes at the site was dismissed.

Peel acquired Horwich Golf Course site in 2012, with the 300-home proposal first submitted in 2017.

The controversial plans, which sparked outrage from residents, were first rejected by the council last year, before Peel appealed the decision and it was put to a public inquiry.

Planning inspector John Felgate agreed with the residents, saying the land was part of a “valued landscape” and that the harm caused to the area would be “substantial”.

But Peel bosses now say they have taken on board the advice from the government’s inspector and have altered the plans, which request permission to build up to 276 homes.

The new proposal’s authors are aiming to convince decision-makers with a reduction of two hectares and 24 homes from the rejected plans, which they say will now help to protect the area’s views.

Philip Rothwell, Peel L&P’s planning director said: “We’ve listened to local people’s concerns and the Inspector’s recommendations about the impact on the landscape and have made a number of changes to our plans to retain and further enhance the area’s surroundings.

“There is a significant shortfall of housing in Bolton and our proposals will help the council to meet its five-year supply on non-greenbelt land with benefits to local education, transport and recreational facilities for the community.”

In the plans are provisions for a mix of homes for sale including apartments, bungalows and two to five-bed family properties. A third would also be earmarked for people with affordable housing needs, says the company.

Among the promises in the proposal, Peel L&P say the company will make contributions to St Joseph’s RC High School and towards highway improvements at Beehive roundabout, where the council identified a funding gap.

Not only could the new plans change the course for the land, there are other decision yet to be made which could affect the Victoria Road site’s future.

The land is currently designated as Other Protected Open Land (OPOL), which means it does not benefit from the same protections as green belt sites.

However, a bid to put the site in the green belt resulted in it being included in Bolton’s submission to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

This means that, if the latest draft of the region’s masterplan for homes, jobs and the environment is approved, Horwich Golf Club would have green belt status.

Peel L&P has also signed an agreement for Horwich Golf Club to continue playing at the site until 2023.