A Northern Midlands development could add 250 lots after a separate development was withdrawn

The development site sits on the south-west corner of the town between Bulwer and Brickendon streets and has received approval from the Northern Midlands council for an initial six lots along Bulwer Street.

An additional 22 lots are expected to be put forward as part of stage one, once additional plans have been approved. Developer Dell Farm's chairman Bruce Pitt said the former sheep farm would be developed in three stages with the initial six lots serving as a testbed for stages two and three to follow.

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Mr Pitt said he was still working through the masterplan that would see more than 30 hectares of agricultural land rezoned for residential use, which would allow the desired 250 lots to be built.

"It's quite a substantial development, he said. "It's going to take quite a few years which is what you would expect to get out of that number usable lots."

According to Mr Pitt, interest in the development was high and he said he had already been approached by several parties interested in purchasing a lot.

"People always ask me when you're doing your subdivision, put me down for a block," he said. "I've got builders who want blocks, we've got people that want blocks like there's demand because there's just nothing out there."

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Mr Pitt said he had been working closely with the Northern Midlands council to turn the vision for the development into a reality.

It comes up after a neighbouring development in the region recently withdrew a rezoning application, referring to the council a "circus" and raising concerns of a possible conflict of interest.

Red Panda Property withdrew a rezoning application for up to 390 homes in August following a disagreement with the council over stormwater disbursement.

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RPP director Andrew McCullagh said the disagreement was "more personal" than stormwater.

"It's not really about the stormwater, it goes much more personal than that, and one might see the irony when you have council doing their own property development on designated flood-prone land across the road," he said.

The disagreement means the developer's hope of turning soil later this year appear all but gone, but the council says it is open to working further with the developer.

Mr Pitt said he was hopeful the council would share his vision for the development to make Longford a viable option for prospective builders and homeowners.

"Longford is growing, it got potential and there is opportunity," he said

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