Crown Estate and Igloo lodge £32m Knutsford proposals

Located off Manchester Road in the north-west of the Cheshire town, the 75-home scheme is billed as a flagship project for low-carbon residential development.

This is one of three projects being brought forward by The Crown Estate to explore how high quality, energy-secure homes can be delivered at scale, sitting alongside schemes in Wootton, Bedfordshire and Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

The design and project team includes Planit, Tate + Co, Useful Projects, SLR Consulting, calfordseaden, Deloitte and Envance.

Consultation was carried out on the nine-acre plans last year, while the partners were told earlier this year that an Environmental Impact Assessment would not be required.

The partners said that “an exemplar approach to landscape and public realm, with nature, community and wellbeing embedded from the outset” is the central thrust of the proposal.

Biodiverse planting and a central pond are set to deliver biodiversity net gain of more than 15%, with plans to plant more than 80 new trees at the site. The scheme would include a network of public open spaces, semi-private communal gardens, play areas and a pavilion for social gatherings.

Homes would range from one-bedroom maisonettes to five-bedroom family houses, with around 40% of homes being accessible or adaptable, while around 30% will be delivered as affordable housing.

The partners said the proposals have been developed in line with Cheshire East Council’s local plan.

Michelle Williams, project director at igloo, said: “This is a genuinely exciting moment for the project. At Knutsford, we have the opportunity to demonstrate what the future of sustainable neighbourhoods can look like in practice – combining low-carbon living with high-quality design and meaningful placemaking.”

Rob Chesworth, head of strategic land at The Crown Estate, said: “Across the country, we need to find new ways to deliver homes and communities that are affordable, sustainable and sensitive to the local area.

“This is exactly what our proposals in Knutsford are seeking to provide. By working together with the local community and exploring the relationship between innovation, affordability and nature, we can shape a template for future housing not only in Knutsford, but throughout the UK.”