CGI showing the proposed Mill Green Farm neighbourhood from Redrow Homes. Credit: via planning documents

Redrow plots nearly 500 houses in Widnes

Plans are in for two projects from the housebuilder, the first for 441 homes on farmland and the second for 52 dwellings nearby.

Both applications were submitted by planning consultant Barton Willmore.

Layout for the 441-home scheme. Credit: via planning documents

Mill Green Farm

Redrow Homes is asking Halton Council for permission to build nearly 450 houses on this 52-acre site. Located north of Derby Road and south of Mill Green Lane, the farmland would be transformed into a neighbourhood with a linear park, two play areas, footpaths and cycleways.

The proposed houses break down to 18 one-bedroom homes, 70 two-bedroom dwellings, 43 three-bedroom houses, 244 four-bedroom properties and 66 five-bedroom ones.

Of those 441 homes, 88 would be designated affordable. There would be 18 one-bedroom homes and 70 two-bedroom ones.

Vehicle access to the development would come from the roundabout junction off Mill Lane, as well as from Derby Road. Redrow would also develop a footpath link from Derby Road to Mill Lane.

The project team for Mill Green Farm includes Itransport, Redmore, TEP, Ironside Farrar, Ground Solve, Heritage Archaeology, PGLA, TBA and E3p.

Comments are open through 5 May on the application. Want to learn more about this project? The application’s reference number with Halton Council is 22/00178/FUL.

Redrow would create a play area and SUDs on the southern end of the site. Credit: via planning documents

Oak Villa

Adjacent to the proposed Mill Green Farm housing development sits the nearly six-acre site of Oak Villa, which would also border South Lane and Barrow’s Green Lane.

Smaller than the Mill Green project, this development would only have 52 homes. These break down to two one-bedroom dwellings, eight two-bedroom homes, four three-bedroom ones, 31 four-bedroom homes and seven with five bedrooms. Of these houses, 10 would be designated affordable.

Access to the site would be from South Lane, while those cycling or walking could enter the neighbourhood through the Boundary Stone Lane development.

Redrow has planned nearly an acre of public open space for Oak Villa, including a play area and SUDs.

Like the Mill Green scheme, the project team includes Itransport, Redmore, TEP,  Ironside Farrar, Heritage Archaeology, PGLA, E3p and TBA. REFA is the ground contamination consultant.

Also like the Mill Green project, comments are open through 5 May. Want to learn more about this project? The application’s reference number with Halton Council is 22/00179/FUL.

Layout for Oak Villa. Credit: via planning documents

Your Comments

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Atrocious. Zero concern for local residents and swathes of pro-development biased documentation to support the application. A huge parcel of cherished greenbelt land offered up for grabs once again by Halton Borough Council in the DALP based on skewed and unrealistic supporting documentation. Well done Halton, and well done Redrow, for further diluting anything characteristic of the area, with almost 500 character-less houses that could be found anywhere else in the country. There is nothing distinct about this development proposal and nothing about it to be applauded. It should be condemned, and as such I expect it will fly through the Halton Planning system.

By Jonathan Farrell, Architect.

No local GP surgery you can register with. No secondary school your children will be able to get into. Yet another development without regard to local services ability to cope is absurd.

By Grant smith

Firstly, access from adjoining roads doesn’t take into account speed of oncoming traffic, speed of entry to estates, or influence of traffic turning into the estate on passing traffic.
Secondly, roads already exist that could enable access, why build extra access roads into and out of the estates.
Thirdly, Green infrastructure isn’t being considered appropriately. Make the roads wider to accept cycles with wider views for the street scene.
And lastly, redrow, being allowed to build more dull as dishwater speed build crap in the town without any thought from the council about societal infrastructure, like schools. The town is in bad shape because of this, and will suffer.

By Local resident no. 87451

Widnes has very little true open countryside, these fields are an oasis, being a home for grey partridge sky larks and hedge sparrows all increasingly rare birds that where plentiful when I was a lad.
My question is when will this lunacy stop or will we finally connect with Liverpool and Warrington.

By Anonymous

This is very good- we need more houses and these will be a fine development- council tax paid will pay for the local services needed many times over-

By Stuart wood

My initial comment would be is the infrastructure in place I.e doctors surgery a school etc As it stands my granddaughter who resides in Widnes has had all her three choices of school for September refused as there are no places !

By Anonymous

Concrete and tarmac…. No green space and no supporting infrastructure for thousands of additional people….. A DISASTER!

By Anonymous

Derby Road is already a very busy road and often very dirty due to the quarry traffic. The Quarry is on the field behind this proposed development nothing is mentioned about it.
It is already impossible to get a Drs appointment and our local school is quite small so hard for children to get a place there. Our nearest Secondary school was closed some time ago and you guessed it – new houses built on the land instead. This piece of land they are planning on building upon is our last little piece of green belt. No longer will we see the Hares boxing – flowers along the hedgerow. At the moment we have a sea of daffodils. Some times the field floods into ponds and we get ducks and geese landing. Lots of wildlife including a pair of Buzzards. So sad if all of this is lost to everyone. It is a favourite circular route for people young and old to walk. Please help us stop this development before it’s too late and yet another new crop of houses pens us all in.

By Anonymous

This area is supposed to be greenbelt and should not be built on. The proposals lists a number of affordable homes what is meant by affordable?
New homes should be built on brownfield sites and what provisions are to be made for schools, dental surgeries and doctors in the area. There is already a problem for families getting there children into local schools and registering for NHS services.

By David

We don’t need any more houses in that area . Widnes has plenty of brown sites near the river . The green belt needs to be preserved an not sold off for profit .

By Anonymous

Maybe in these uncertain times the government should incourage and help farmers to grow more food so reducing our reliance on others countries not selling good farm land off for more unaffordable houses for ordinary people.

By Utterly dismayed and disgusted.

Too much traffic on this road now like M62 and green belt area

By U/K

Has any consideration been given to providing extra schools, extra doctors etc

By Ivor Lewis

Just a question to those clearly vehemently opposed to these houses. If Halton wants to increase the number of households in the borough with above average income and skills where exactly should they live? These sort of people pay high rates of council tax, spend more in shops, are attractive to employers, and when they put their kids into state education are demanding of higher standards. Kind of wondering why any town that wants to thrive economically wouldn’t want them.

By Rich X

Since the publication of this article and subsequent comments below, we have had another planning proposal through the door, further down South Lane. Another 99 houses so an additional 200+ cars…brilliant planning by Halton!! Another large field gone. How long til Sunnybank is sold for housing?!?! Halton Council – where is the investment in decent shops? You selling £500k+ houses yet you trying to attract Primark. Surely the town deserves better leadership than you lot….you got no idea what the town needs. Stuck in the past in terms of facilities.

By Nick

This is a disgrace that builders feel they can just build anywhere they like. Destroying all the green areas and aesthetics of the surrounding areas.

By Jamie Byrne

I agree with everything that had been said and have opposed the plans at every stage with zero effect, what is the point of public consultation when the outcome has already been decided. I will be most anxious to see what the new residents will think of the quarry just over the other side of Mill Lane and all the filth, noise and heavy traffic rumbling up Derby Road it causes.

By Anonymous

I am disabled and will need to downsize from a 3 bedroom detached house for a 2 bed home is it possible to have a look at the plan please

By Jackie Evans

When are these being built in widnes

By Cathy ryan

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