David Wilson scheme in Crewe hits snag

Cheshire East Council’s strategic planning board unanimously voted to defer the homebuilder’s application to construct 151 houses off Sydney Road.

David Wilson Homes’ proposed 11-acre development included a mixture of apartments and two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses. Of the proposed homes, 29 would be at affordable rent and 16 would have shared ownership. Savills, TCL and E*scape urbanists also worked on the scheme.

The project had been earmarked for approval by the council’s planning officer. However, more than a hundred residents had issued responses to the application, many of which were critical. Crewe Town Council and Haslington Parish Council had also objected to the development.

Areas of concern included safety and traffic issues on Sydney Road and the nearby Crewe Green roundabout. The layout of the scheme, particularly the location of a proposed play area, was also criticised.

The application now returns to the developer to make adjustments based on the feedback from the board and residents.

Cllr Stewart Gardiner, vice-chair of the strategic planning board, emphasised that the deferment was not a rejection of the project.

“We’ve made it quite clear what the issues that we have,” he said in the meeting on 16 June. “We’re asking the applicant to work with me and the other officers to address these concerns and we will reconsider what comes out the other side.

“We’re trying to work with the developer, not against them,” he continued. “But we feel it is in the interest of the people we represent that the best possible use of this site is brought forward. We think, at the moment, there is more work that could be done.”

Andrew Taylor, planning director for David Wilson Homes North West, said that the company appreciated and respected the views and comments of the residents and board members.

“We are taking these comments into account and will continue to work with officers to address the concerns that have been raised,” Taylor said. “We hope to return to the strategic planning board soon with a revised scheme.”