Cheshire Fresh puts in for 2,100 Crewe homes

Land at Red Hall Farm close to Leighton Hospital is subject of the Weavers Green outline planning application, as the developer looks to expand Crewe to the north-west.

Cheshire Fresh, the property company headed by ex-Pochin directors Bob and Jim Nicholson, held a consultation on the Weavers Green proposals in March. That process has informed the application now submitted to and validated by Cheshire East Council.

Weavers Green is described in advisor Spawforths’ planning statement as “a sustainable and logical extension to Crewe” that could “make a significant contribution to addressing the housing needs in Cheshire East, as well delivering a new local centre, provision for employment space, new green infrastructure, and opening up accessibility to the River Weaver”.

The 280-acre development could deliver up to 30% affordable housing, Spawforths said.

Along with up to 2,100 homes, the masterplan area could deliver 65,420 sq ft of employment land, 45,000 sq ft of space for uses including retail and health facilities, and land for a primary school.

• READ MORE: Welcome to Greater Crewe

The site is not currently allocated for development of any kind, and is classed as countryside, therefore putting the plans in conflict with Cheshire East’s development plan. However, the local plan is now nine years old, and the council cannot demonstrate anything approaching a five-year supply of housing land.

Spawforths also points out the positive presumption in favour of sustainable development provision.

The site is located immediately to the north-west of Crewe and comprises the land that currently makes up Red Hall Farm. The site is in a single ownership, with four phases of development envisaged. Access roads will be built from Middlewich Road.

Leighton Hospital, in line for a sweeping redevelopment in wave one of the government’s new hospitals programme, is immediately adjacent to the eastern boundary of the site.

Want to know more? Head to Cheshire East Council’s planning portal, using the reference number 26/2711/OUT.