The Future of Fylde Is Up for Debate – And Your Opinion Counts
Fylde residents are being urged to make their voices heard as controversial plans for 6,656 new homes across the borough go out to public consultation.
The six-week consultation on Fylde Council’s new Local Plan to 2042 is now underway, giving residents the chance to comment on proposals that could shape where thousands of homes are built over the next two decades.
But the Council insists the headline figure isn’t its choice.
It says the 6,656-home target has been imposed by the Government under national planning rules, leaving the authority with little option but to plan for the extra housing.
Council leaders are warning that if Fylde fails to adopt a new Local Plan by December 2026, existing planning policies could become out of date – opening the door to speculative developments with far less local control over where homes are built.
To avoid that, the draft plan proposes concentrating around 90 per cent of new housing in four key strategic locations, while avoiding any major release of Green Belt land in a bid to protect Fylde’s countryside and the borough’s unique character.
Councillor Gavin Harrison, Chair of Fylde Council’s Planning Committee, said the consultation gives residents the chance to influence how the Government’s housing requirements are delivered locally.
He said the Council was trying to manage the pressure for new housing while protecting the character of Fylde and urged people to study the proposals and share their views.
Council Leader Karen Buckley said the Government had significantly increased the number of homes councils must plan for and stressed that this consultation was residents’ opportunity to influence the final plan before it is submitted for independent examination.
Will Fylde need thousands of new homes – or should the borough fight back against the Government’s housing targets? The consultation runs until 5pm on Friday, 30 October, with all comments being passed to the Secretary of State as part of the formal examination process.
The digital plan, evidence base and online response form are available at www.fylde.gov.uk/2042.
Comments should be made in writing, either by email to planningpolicy@fylde.gov.uk, or by post to Planning Policy, Planning Department, Fylde Council, Town Hall, St Annes Road West, Lytham St Annes, FY8 1LW, to be received by the deadline of 5pm on 30th October 2026.
Residents are asked to read the Privacy Notice before commenting: https://new.fylde.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Statement-of-Representations-Procedure.pdf
