Knowsley sites mapped for 1,000 homes

Housebuilders Redrow and Bellway are looking to separately develop hundreds of homes across four plots close to the railway line at Halewood, in schemes tipped for approval by the council next week.

The two sets of applications – which comprise a mix of hybrid and full plans – are being determined by Knowsley Council on 11 February.

Redrow’s proposal concerns the first and third plots, which the housebuilder has earmarked for up to 730 residential units.

The first plot is north of the railway line – a site bounded by Lower Road, Greensbridge Lane and Ditton Brook Watercourse, while the third is south of the railway line bounded by Lower Road, Finch Lane and Baileys Lane.

Redrow is seeking full consent to regrade the site, conduct necessary engineering work and build the first 344 homes with associated landscaping and infrastructure, and outline consent for a further 386 dwellings.

The proposals have received around 50 objections during two rounds of public consultations, including concerns over loss of countryside and the potential increase in traffic the scheme could bring. The latter concern was raised by local site occupier Jaguar Land Rover.

Meanwhile, Bellway seeks full consent to build 413 homes across plots two and four.

Bellway’s plans for plot two are to build 98 homes, while plot four has been earmarked for 315 units. The second plot is north of the railway line bounded by Greensbridge Lane and Lower Road, while the fourth plot is south of the railway line bounded by Finch lane and Higher Road. A total of 24 objections were raised during consultation.

The site is allocated for housing in Knowsley’s local plan. Councillors said in a report ahead of next week’s meeting: “The main benefit of the scheme is the provision of additional housing on an allocated site that makes an ongoing contribution to the council’s supply of housing, and this is given significant weight in favour of the application, in combination with the mix of market housing proposed.

“The proposal would also have some economic benefits in terms of jobs in construction and spending within the construction industry supply chain.

“It is considered that the benefits of the application demonstrably outweigh [any] limited harm.”