RESIDENTS are “up in arms” about another controversial housing development plan for Flintshire.

The application for 85 new homes on land immediately south of the Meg’s Lane area of Buckley has been filed by Leith Planning Ltd.

The land lies between the southern edge of Buckley and Padeswood.

Meg’s Lane sits next to Spon Green, where a speculative 435 home development was refused last summer.

As part of the development, plans for an extra 100 new builds as on Meg’s Lane were also refused.

Residents, who rallied to successfully fight plans for the 500 home development, have raised similar concerns about the latest plans.

Mike Lewis, chairman of the Meg’s Lane Action Group, said: “Residents are up in arms about it. There have been recent major developments in Drury, Ewloe and Bryn-y-Baal, where are those people going to get medical help from? Buckley Medical Centre.

“Having spoken to my doctor just the other day, they are already stretched to the limit.

“This town just doesn’t have the infrastructure for even more new homes, there are a shortage of schools and there is a general lack of industry in Buckley.”

One of the major concerns raised about the original development was the fact the land is located within the Green Belt, which aims protect land where agriculture, forestry and outdoor leisure can be expected to prevail.

Mr Lewis added: “This land should be preserved.

“They just want to tear all the hedgerows and trees, some of which are 150 years old, down to build houses.

“It’s shocking.”

A design and access statement submitted with the plans said: “The site lies outside the settlement boundary of Buckley and is located within the Green Belt as identified in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

“However, Flintshire Council does not have a current five year supply of housing land and as such Green Belt sites may need to be released to meet that need.”

People have until February 5 to comment on the plans.

The application is based on Tan 1, a Welsh Government policy which stipulates that the need to increase the region’s housing supply should be given considerable weight when dealing with planning applications.

Section 6.2 of Tan 1 was ditched last June by Wrexham Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs.

She enforced the change amid concerns that too much strain was being placed on localities after refusals by councils of a number of speculative housing developments were overturned on appeal to planning inspectors.