Go-ahead secured for 94 Halton homes
Outline planning permission has been granted for the development of a former off-road motorcycle track previously classed as Green Belt.
Now allocated for housing, the Hilltop Farm site in Preston on the Hill closed as a motorbike destination during the pandemic. Halton Council’s development management committee voted in lnie with officer recommendation in approving the plans yesterday.
Emery Planning is representing the applicant, Messrs M&S Rutter.
Accessed from Hilltop Lane to the south, the 8.2-acre site sits east of the A56 Chester Road and is now vacant. Morris Homs is advancing the Waters Edge scheme close by.
As set out in the planning officer report for committee, the site forms Residential Allocation P1 within Policy RD1 as defined within the Halton Delivery and Allocations Local Plan policies map.
It is proposed to form an additional access to the east from Windmill Lane, between Hill Top Farm and Hill Top Cottage. The site is significantly higher at the eastern boundary on Windmill Lane than the western boundary at Chester Road, officers said.
No statutory consultees registered objections.
The intention at this stage is for 59 three-bedroom market-sale homes, and 12 four-bed market-sale homes. These would be joined by 23 affordable homes: 15 one-bed and eight-tow bed.
Although these indicative numbers fall slightly outside the requirements set out by Halton’s strategic housing market assessment, officers “are satisfied that an appropriate mix could be secured by condition” at reserved matters stage.
The M&S Rutter application’s documents can be viewed on Halton’s planning portal, reference 25/00107/OUT.
