Wainhomes tries again in Southport

24 August 2018 07:00 Comments (0)

The Warrington housebuilder’s hybrid application for housing near the town’s botanical gardens is to be heard again at Sefton’s planning committee, with officers again recommending approval.

Sefton’s committee originally heard the application, which covers a 24-acre site off Bankfield Lane in the Churchtown area, in June. At this point it included a full application for 127 homes, along with an outline application for a further 200 homes, all on land allocated for housing within the area’s local plan.

Three petitioners presented to members at June’s committee on behalf of objectors. The ward councillor also spoke against, while local MP Damian Moore argued publicly that local schools are at capacity. In total, more than 180 objections were registered, including submissions from individuals in Warrington and Torquay with links to the area.

The June committee agreed to defer the application in order to receive comments from West Lancashire Borough Council, and to seek further clarification from the applicant, which is advised by Emery Planning Partnership, on issues including amenities, housing mix, access and parking

Wainhomes and Emery have now submitted amended drawings and additional supporting information to address the concerns, including amendments to the site layout, amendments to the house type drawings, addition of a typical street scene drawing, a car parking assessment and an amended drainage statement. Burnley-based DGL Associates has provided drawings. The number of phase one units has increased by one to 128.

West Lancs, for its part, raised no objections provided the scheme is in line with Sefton’s Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

The site in total is 41 acres. The 127-unit phase one is to be a mixture of houses and apartments, all of which will be two storeys in height, and will include 48 affordable homes.

The officer report accompanying the application said: “Despite the significant local opposition, it is considered the development complies with the Sefton Local Plan and is recommended that the application be approved subject to the signing of a section 106 legal agreement.”