PLANNING | Homes England nets approval for 250 Runcorn homes

The final phase of the wider Sandymoor masterplan secured a green light at Monday’s Halton Council planning committee meeting, as did Gormac Developments and Sovini Group’s 59 affordable houses in Halton Lea.

Riverside Group’s application to build 134 homes at Palace Fields was also approved at that meeting. Read more about that project.

Sandymoor South Phase Two

• Application reference number: 22/00543/OUTEIA

With outline planning permission in hand, Homes England’s plans for up to 250 homes on 43 acres of greenfield can move forward – despite 160 objections from local residents.

Sandymoor South Phase Two is the last part of Halton Council’s original Sandymoor masterplan, which was established in 2009 and crafted by Barton Willmore, now Stantec. This masterplan has so far led to the delivery of more than 1,500 homes in the area.

Homes England’s plans include 24 acres of public open space. Around 20% of the homes built would also be designated affordable, with a mix of tenure including affordable rent, shared ownership, and first homes.

When complete, the houses would be accessed via Windmill Hill Avenue East.

Hive Land & Planning is the planning consultant for the scheme.

Hive director Justin Cove said: “We are really pleased to have achieved this significant milestone and the granting of planning permission will pave the way for the final phase of the Sandymoor neighbourhood to be delivered. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with partners to drive this project forward.”

Keepmoat Homes will deliver the project for Homes England.

Buro Happold, Stantec, Turner & Townsend, TEP, Hawk Heritage, and Thomson Environmental Consultants round out the project team.

Falconer Chester Hall is the architect behind the Woodfalls Farm project. Credit: via planning documents

Land at Woodfalls Farm

• Application reference number: 22/00462/FUL

Sovini Group and Gormac Developments are all set to progress their plans to construct 59 affordable homes on Woodfalls Farm.

Situated on more than six acres off Stockham Lane in Halton Lea, the project also includes a large public green space – in part, due to necessity. The housing site is bisected by an ethylene pipeline from United Utilities, which requires part of the site to be a no-build zone.

The scheme was designed by Falconer Chester Hall and includes a provision for 86 cars to park. These vehicles would access the finished neighbourhood from Brookvale Avenue North.

Enable is the planning consultant for the project, while Layer Studio is the landscape architect.

The project team also includes Redmore Environmental, Hann Tucker, Cornerstone, Vectos, Tyler Grange, and Clancy.