Barratt set for consent in Northwich

Nearly 90 homes could be built on a site in Winnington, near Northwich, after proposals by housebuilder Barratt were recommended for approval by Cheshire West & Chester’s planning committee.

Barratt is proposing to build a mix of two, three, and four-bed homes on the 7.4-acre site, next to its recently-completed Imperial Park housing development, which features 150 properties. The nearby former Weir Engineering site has also been recently developed, again featuring 150 homes.

The triangular site, accessed off Rosemary Drive, will include 56 three-bed homes, 13 four-bed houses, eight two-bed houses, and 12 two-bed apartments.

Although near recently-developed housing schemes, Barratt’s planning application has received a number of objections from locals, particularly around traffic and access via Rosemary Drive and the development’s access to Winnington Avenue.

Barratt has also claimed that a 30% level of affordable homes on the site, the council’s minimum requirement, would not be viable on the site; the housebuilder is proposing 13 affordable homes, around 15% of the total.

Addressing concerns over access, planning officers said visibility issues at the junction of Winnington Avenue and Rosemary drive would have to be addressed before any development could take place at the site.

The site also has a designation as either open space or employment land under the area’s current Local Plan; however, it is not set to be designated as open space in the area’s refreshed Local Plan.

The proposals have been recommended for approval when Cheshire West & Chester’s planning committee meets next week, subject to a Section 106 agreement.

This is to include a £94,500 contribution towards off-site recreation provision; £59,500 towards education; £42,000 towards health infrastructure; £130,000 for a pedestrian and cycle link to Moss Farm; and £24,000 towards off-site woodland planting.