Dane Valley homes begin after six-year planning wrangling
Construction has begun on a long-running residential proposal which has navigated a change in developer, three reserved matters submissions, two appeals, and various consent amendments.
Land promoter Ainscough Strategic Land has completed a deal with Bellway Homes, selling a 240-acre site on Hollands Road, Northwich, with planning permission for 227 houses, 30% of which are due to be affordable.
The development will also create access to more than 100 acres of maintained meadowland close to the River Dane, and includes a section 106 contribution towards education services of £800,000.
Cheshire West & Chester Council first approved an outline plan for a 242-home project at the site in 2013, and signed-off a180-home detailed application brought forward by Ainscough in partnership with David Wilson Homes. David Wilson then pulled out.
The revised application, with Bellway in place as housebuilder, was submitted last year and sought detailed permission for the scheme in its current form, based on the outline consent granted in 2013. Cheshire West councillors debated the project due to its possible risk of flooding, however it was ultimately approved, allowing the land sale to Bellway to complete.
John Brooks, planning director at Ainscough Strategic Land, said: “It has not been without its challenges – since securing the outline consent we have successfully pursued three reserved matters submissions, two appeals and numerous consent amendments to arrive at the Bellway approval. Our landowners are delighted with the outcome, and with the quality of Bellway’s plans.
“This will be a design-led development on what is a highly attractive site, undoubtedly raising the quality of the housing offer in Northwich. As well as providing more than 220 much-needed quality family homes, it opens up and gifts to the town over 100 acres of new public meadowland adjacent to the River Dane. This will be a tremendous community asset for both the neighbourhood and for Northwich as a whole.”
Works are under way to create an entrance to the site from London Road, with significant infrastructure works to follow in coming weeks. The first homes will be released for sale in the second half of 2020.
I m sure the current landowners are delighted!
The new home owners won’t be when at some point it all floods one day.
By Optimist
The only problem is it sits on a massive flood plain as over the past 50 years ive watched it fllood and with the flood defences now installed in northwich town centre it will flood at that point even more and the river dane banks move every few years due to the fast moving current. the river dane banks are also very dangerous as they can crumble at a moments notice.
By Northwich
Ho difficult would it be to get House Insurance on a known Flood Plain ?
By Mr Swamp
Floods in Whaley bridge town evacuated, floods in Yorkshire people having to evacuate there homes , meanwhile permission to build on the Dane valley a known flood plain ??? Thinks not such a good idea !!
By T.j.w.
How can Brooks from Ainscough call this a “highly attractive site” ?? It is a FLOOD PLAIN. It has flooded in the past and it will flood again, that’s why nature put it there. I really do pity anyone daft enough to buy a property down there, good luck with the insurance and of course the constantly shifting and crumbling river banks, I hope people don’t let their kids play in the new meadows near the river… It is NOT safe.
By Tom