Local Cllrs. oppose “ludicrous development” on Croft farm land

PLANS to build nearly 100 new homes on farmland at Croft have been described as a “ludicrous development” by local Cllrs. opposing the scheme.

The proposal by Bellway Homes involves a residential development of 98 dwellings, internal access roads, public open space including play facilities, landscaping, infrastructure works including the erection of a sub-station, together with other associated works at Heathercroft Stud Farm off Deacon Close, Croft, Warrington.

The development aims to deliver a total of 98 2-storey detached, semi-detached and mews dwellings. The scheme will deliver a total of 69 market dwellings, comprising a mix of 39 3- bedroom and 30 4-bedroom homes, which will help to diversify the choice and range of family housing to meet local needs. To help to increase the supply of affordable homes in the area, the scheme will deliver a total of 29 affordable homes, comprising 2 1-bedroom, 20 2-bedroom and 7 3-bedroom dwellings.

But in a joint statement local Cllrs. Wendy Maisey, Carol Benson and Val Allen said: “We have been out on the doorsteps of Deacons Close and Abbey Close in Croft delivering letters to residents there and throughout the village. We met not one who was in favour of this development, just concerns about traffic through a narrow road and the loss of farmland.
“We were unanimously elected by the residents of Culcheth Glazebury & Croft on a mandate to protect our precious farmland from unnecessary development.
“Labour’s disastrous local plan being inflicted upon our villages has not taken into consideration essential services such as GP, dentist, and school places.
“We will oppose this ludicrous development and will keep residents informed of an upcoming meeting in Croft. We’d encourage anyone who is also opposed to this development to send a clear message to Warrington Borough Council and object”.
To comment and view the full plans CLICK HERE

You can view and comment on the application until the 13th of March ’23.

Meanwhile, a Heritage Archaeology survey commissioned by Bellway Homes Limited says the site is currently occupied by a stud farm, with stable buildings, paddocks and riding arenas. No known heritage assets are recorded within the development site, designated or nondesignated. The site has a low potential for archaeological evidence from the prehistoric, Roman and medieval periods.
An Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey of Heathcroft Stud, Croft, Warrington (the ‘site’) was undertaken on 25 th January 2023. The site comprises an equestrian centre with buildings, bare ground, improved grassland, hedgerows and scattered trees. A ditch runs adjacent to the eastern boundary. The proposed development is unlikely to result in any impacts to any protected sites. Hedgerows and trees will be retained (apart from minor loss to enable access). Any hedgerow removal or building demolition should be timed to avoid the bird nesting season (March-August) or be preceded by a survey by a suitably qualified ecologist. Buildings and trees on the site offer negligible potential to support roosting bats. A lighting scheme should retain dark corridors along the hedgerows to avoid the risk of impacts to foraging and commuting bats.
The site is approximately 3.36Ha and is located off Deacons Close, in the north-eastern edge of Warrington town centre and is formed by two parcels partially occupied by Heathcroft Stud Equestrian Centre. The site has a strong landscape setting and consists partially of open fields, on the northern section and Heathcroft Stud Equestrian Centre at the south. The site is bounded to the north, east, south and pariatlly to the west by a strong landscape buffer formed of hedges and mature trees. The western boundary is formed by the urban rural edge of Croft Village. To the north, east and south of the site are open fields, broken up by roads. The site is relatively flat with a change of only 2m across the site, The site slopes gradually towards the south-east corner with a change of around 8m diagonally across the site.
This application proposes a residential development, which will be sympathetic to the traditional vernacular of the surrounding area which is predominately residential. The existing urban grain is characterised by a range of residential houses with local facilities such as schools that serve the residential properties integrated within these areas.
There is a mix of low-rise residential dwellings consisting of 2,3- and 4-bedroom houses, the mix consists of detached and semi- detached properties providing a street scene of modern and sympathetic architectural styles. The existing and wellestablished residential areas consist of a mix of architectural vernaculars with no overarching character. The existing development shows a range of architectural detailing including red brick and grey rooves, render and Tudor boarding, with chimneys and integral garages. Windows and facias are a combination of white and dark. Steep roof pitches and brick detailing feature, as well as upfront parking
The 98 open market dwellings form a coherent and considered low rise residential scheme in line with Warrington Borough Council’s design requirements in respect of Scale, Quality, Character, Amenity and Landscaping. This individual scheme which forms part of an already implemented wider masterplan will give a positive contribution to local housing needs.
A planning statement by the developers states “The development will achieve a sensitive and robust solution to the relationship between existing and proposed dwellings and create a sense of place which includes house types that reference the local architectural language and blends seamlessly with the wider residential area.”

Local Cllrs who are opposing the development at Croft