Breck Homes has successfully appealed against the refusal of planning permission for a new affordable housing development in Parr, St Helens.
Breck, in a joint venture with Northern Trust Land, submitted plans to St Helens Council in March 2025, through planning consultant De Pol Associates. The initial planning application for Fleet Lane was rejected in November 2025.
The Planning Inspectorate has now allowed the appeal and granted planning permission for 51 homes, with no new objections received from nearby residents during the appeal process.
The development, which is being delivered in partnership with affordable housing provider Jigsaw, will feature a mix of high-quality two, three and four-bedroom homes, alongside one-bedroom apartments, new public open space and a children’s play area.
Ecological enhancements, including new ponds, marshy grassland and native woodland planting, will help to deliver a biodiversity net gain of more than 57 per cent. The four-acre site also benefits from strong connections to local services, active travel routes and public transport.
Phil Dolan, managing director – North West, Breck Homes said: “We are delighted with the Planning Inspector’s decision to approve our scheme for 51 much needed affordable homes in St Helens. By the time the appeal was heard, the Council and Breck had reached agreement on the other reasons for refusal of the planning application.
“The only remaining item of contention was whether the proposed scheme would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework.
“We successfully demonstrated that the site qualifies as Grey Belt and would therefore not constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt. We also demonstrated the unmet need for affordable housing and the local planning authority’s lack of a five-year deliverable housing land supply.
“We would like to thank our fantastic legal and planning team for their work in securing this outcome.”
Breck’s team was led by Sarah Reid KC of Kings Chambers, supported by Alexis De Pol of De Pol Associates, Ben Pycroft of Emery Planning and James Stacey of Tetlow King,
The Planning Inspectorate’s decision notice can be viewed here.