Halton tipped to approve 94 homes
Now removed from the Green Belt and allocated for housing, the site had been an off-road motorcycle centre prior to the pandemic.
Emery Planning is representing the applicant, Messrs M&S Rutter, in their quest to establish an outline consent for the land, at Hilltop Farm. The scheme goes to committee next week, recommended for approval.
Accessed from Hilltop Lane to the south, the 8.2-acre Preston-on-the-Hill site sits east of the A56 Chester Road and is now vacant, the all-electric motorbike centre having closed during lockdown.
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 have registered an objection, however Preston Brook Parish Council is among the 37 logged opponents of the scheme.
As for the housing breakdown, 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.
Coming to biodiversity, officers reported that the application team has indicated an intention to purchase off-site credits – a suitably worded condition will therefore be imposed to ensure that the required 10% BNG uplift is achieved, officers said, again at reserved matters.
The site is close to Morris Homes’ Waters Edge scheme.
Halton Council’s development management committee meets on 10 August. The M&S Rutter application’s documents can be viewed on Halton’s planning portal, reference 25/00107/OUT.
If the site goes ahead it will be a traffic nightmare on that road. Using it everyday I can say from personal experience that the volume of traffic will impact on the road and will be an accident hotspot
By David Williams
No wonder the planning was approved – think of all the Council Tax it will generate !!
By Steve
I don’t think ‘Halton tipped to approve homes’ is much of a risky bet. Halton is pretty much tipped to become one huge suburb helping to connect up Warringpoolchester. Interesting that it’s been taken out of Green Belt. Not sure why Halton BC continues with that charade either. Just come clean and tell us that ‘green’ is something that Halton residents will have to get in their cars and drive if they want to experience.
By Paul S
What a surprise site no longer green belt, just look at widnes around Everglades hotel over 600 houses on previous farmland with no thought to infrastructure.
By Anonymous
The road is extremely dangerous driving up the hill this road isn’t wide enough for two vehicles passing each other. Hill top should be one way. Also there is no dentist or doctors close by.
By Deborah Baker
The A56 and the adjacent M56 are already severely overloaded with frequent traffic jams. There is little work to be had in Runcorn,Frodsham and Helsby so the whole area has become a commuter area. Public transport is minimal particularly after 6.00pm. If planners continue to approve more housing along this section of the A56 then daily travel will become a nightmare.
By Glyn
Halton needs affordable housing, not 4 bed expensive housing and we have plenty of brownfield sites that could be cleared and built on, instead of building on what little greenbelt we have left. We’re a massively nature depleted nation. Please leave our greenbelt alone
By Helen Hand