Aintree housing set for consent despite local petition
A housing project with access branded as “troublesome and dangerous” by the local parish council, which has also attracted a 250-name petition against it, has been recommended for approval when Sefton Council’s planning committee meets next week.
The proposals for the site, bounded by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to the east, the River Alt to the north, and Wango Lane to the south, include 43 detached and semi-detached houses, brought forward by Blackburn-based developer Mullberry Homes.
The area has been designated for housing under Sefton’s local plan, and Mullberry is proposing to build 19 affordable homes as part of the development.
However, it has attracted heavy criticism from local residents, with a 251-signature petition endorsed by local councillor Cllr Bob McCann passed to Sefton’s planning department in February this year.
Residents’ criticisms centred on development of a flood plain, the developments’ access arrangements, and an increase in congestion, with the petition citing Wango Lane’s role as an access to Aintree Hospital, while the application was criticised for providing “out of date” traffic turning counts.
Aintree Parish Council also said the proposed access to the site was “likely to be troublesome and dangerous given its proximity to canal bridge, which is often closed and causes tailbacks”.
“The submitted surveys do not address times in which the canal bridge is closed, racecourse events, or consider other nearby developments,” added the council.
However, in a report to planners, Sefton’s Highways team said the increase in traffic levels in the area from the development would be “negligible”, but did add the site was “not in a very accessible location”.
The highways team added the queue average waiting time in the morning and afternoon over the nearby canal bridge “would be acceptable in all scenarios of saturation, queues, and reserve capacity”.
Recommending the project for approval, Sefton Council planners said the proposals would “contribute towards the need for affordable housing in Sefton East parishes,” and said the project should be given planning consent subject to a Section 106 agreement.
This includes a £91,600 contribution towards primary education, open space management, and a replacement boundary wall to Valley House.
Sefton’s planning committee is due to meet on 4 July. The professional team on the project includes VTC as transport planner, and CGMS as heritage consultant.
