A controversial planning application (17/00852/B) to build homes and a retail unit in Crosby is a lot closer to becoming reality.

The application, submitted by JM Project Management Ltd, has been accepted by planners subject to a legal agreement being reached over affordable housing.

The plan for fields at Ballaglonney Farm on Peel Road in Crosby include 28 houses and a retail unit with 33 car parking spaces.

Under housing policy five, developments of eight or more homes must include 25% affordable housing, unless the applicants reach a legal agreement with planners.

Planners have ruled that permission will be granted for the application provided that agreement is made within the next six months, otherwise the application will be referred back to the planning committee for further consideration.

The plans have proved controversial with residents and the local authority Marown Commissioners who have continuously resisted the application since it first came forward in 2015.

Since then, six applications have been submitted, with some residents growing suspicious the developer was looking to force through plans.

Residents who had objected to plans were given interested person status, meaning they could appeal decisions, however, following the adoption of a new operational policy in July 2018, it appears the villagers suddenly lost this status without being told.

One of them is Alison Lynch, who told local democracy reporter Ewan Gawne that many were angry to discover they no longer qualified, especially after the time and money spent opposing the plans.

She said that any new policy should be introduced for applications lodged after a certain date, not in the middle of long-standing planning battles.

Mrs Lynch added: ’A new policy was issued in July last year, and a number of people who have had their status removed, including myself.

’We’ve spent hundreds of pounds objecting to the development.

’Suddenly, we can do no more, now I completely understand that things have to change but I personally think it should be any new planning applications from July 2018 that the new policy will apply to.

’It should not be for something that is already in planning and certainly not four years down the line.’