Knowsley progresses 905 homes
Hallam Land Management and Hyperion Ventures’ bid to build a veritable village on land by Home Farm Road was approved despite heated opposition from locals, as was Taylor Wimpey’s plans for 205 homes on the former Glen Dimplex site in Whiston.
Knowsley Council met on 5 November to debate the proposals.
Land at Knowsley Estate
Developer: Hallam Land Management and Hyperion Ventures
Architect: Marrons
Planner: Pegasus Group
The outline application for up to 700 homes on 83 acres of farmland by Home Farm Road took up the bulk of Thursday’s planning committee meeting. A passionate public gallery echoed the 520 objections received for the scheme.
The nearly two-hour discussion vacillated between approval and rejection, with councillors ultimately voting seven to five to follow officer recommendation and give the project the go-ahead.
Of the homes proposed, 25% would need to be affordable according to planning obligations. If the full 700 were built, this would result in 175 affordable homes. Of those 175, 75% would need to be made available for rent while the remaining would be intermediate homes.
An indicative housing mix broke down the 700 homes to 42 studio/one-bedroom apartments, 360 three-bedroom homes, and 204 four-bedroom ones.
The development site encompasses two ancient woodlands: Howard’s Pitts and Knowle’s Pits. These would have a 15-metre buffer zone around them. There would also be a 20-metre landscape buffer zone to the eastern and southern edges of the site, according to the planning committee report.
To learn more about the application search reference 25/00486/OUT on Knowsley Council’s planning portal.
The Glen Dimplex factory is deemed obsolete for modern logistics and manufacturing requirements. Credit: Google Earth
Former Glen Dimplex site
Developer: Taylor Wimpey
Architect: Banners Gate
Planner: Asteer
Councillors took considerably less time to sign off on Taylor Wimpey’s plans for the old manufacturing site, which closed two years ago.
Taylor Wimpey’s plans to build up to 205 houses on the 14-acre industrial complex are due to cost £37.5m, according to a report from Turley Economics.
Of those homes, 25 are due to have two bedrooms, 129 would have three, and 51 would have four. There would be 21 affordable homes included in the number, with five reserved for shared ownership and 16 for affordable rent.
Situated off Stoney Lane in Whiston, the scheme would see the demolition of the 235,100 sq ft factory.
Proposals also include the planting of 212 trees, shrubs, hedgerows, and wildflower meadows.
The project team includes CBRE, PGLA, SLR, Eddisons, UES, and Hepworth Acoustics.
You can learn more about the application by searching reference 25/00672/FUL on Knowsley Council’s planning portal.
