More than 1,700 homes proposed for Cheshire

Applications that would bring a total of 1,700 homes to the market are recommended for approval by the council next week.

The first is an outline application for the phased development of up to 1,400 homes by house builders Taylor Wimpey North West and Redrow Homes North West.

The scheme is recommended for approval by Cheshire West and Chester’s planning committee next Thursday, after it won hybrid planning consent for the scheme last January. The developers wish to outline further design changes and access in their latest plans.

While outline application would normally precede submission of detailed layouts, the outline permission “provides a means by which the developers are able to present amended proposals to the detailed scheme already approved. This would be through further reserved matters applications and seeking amendments to an approved scheme is not itself unusual.” the documents state.

The proposals for the 156-acre site include 1,400 homes, a 5,400 sq ft supermarket, 5,400 sq ft retail units, a 2,150 sq ft café, a 7,000 sq ft pub, a 6,500 sq ft nursery, a primary school and playing fields.

The development is expected to take 14 years, with a build rate of 100-120 homes per year.

The application is part of the Wrexham Road strategic allocation area, and work has already begun on the northern part of the site under a previous planning permission. The Wrexham Road site was removed from the Green Belt in January 2015.

Planning consultant Lichfields, landscape architects and designers Planit-IE, and TPM Landscape are on the professional team for the project.

The second application set to be approved is MCI Development’s application for 205 affordable home on land to the rear of West Drive in Winsford.

The 10-acre brownfield site was previously occupied by a car repossession centre, which has since been demolished.

The application seeks full planning permission for a mix of 127 two-, three-, and four-bedroom semi-detached and terraced houses, and 78 one- and two-bedroom apartments across six three-storey apartment blocks.

Richard Lee Project Planning is the planner for the scheme.

The third is Galliford Try’s application to build 82 homes at the site of the former Handley Hill Primary School at Beeston Drive, also in Winsford.

The 6.2-acre site is owned by the council as it was previously a school that closed in 2009 and was demolished in 2018. A memorial garden remains on site.

Of the homes, 25 would be affordable, representing a 30% provision.

The council recommended the scheme for approval as it believes the “proposed development will bring an under-utilised and vacant site back into beneficial use,” the documents state.

Euan Kellie Property Solutions consulted on the scheme, which was designed by MPSL Planning & Design.

An additional two applications from Galliford Try would bring 107 homes to Cheshire West and are also recommended for approval.