Estate homes to go on green land

THIRTEEN additional houses are to be built on land previously reserved as “green” open space in the heart of an estate of nearly 450 houses at Warrington.
Borough planners have approved amendments to the on going development on the site of the former New World gas cooker factory off Thelwall Lane, Latchford.
Although 13 extra houses will be built, in addition to 424 approved in 2009, an earlier scheme which was also approved involved 485 houses, so the final scheme will still be smaller than that originally envisaged.
Some 30.5 per cent of properties on the development are classed as “affordable” – significantly more than the 20 per cent originally approved.
The borough’s development management committee was told the new houses would be partially sited on land previously reserved for public open space and the amount of open space left would be below the minimum levels set out in Warrington’s unitary development plan.
But applicants Morris Homes Ltd had pledged to improve the quality of the open space through enhanced landscaping, improved footpath links, enhanced natural habitats around ponds and additional viewing platforms and jetties.
The site is adjacent to existing open areas such as Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve, Paddington Meadows, the Twiggeries and the Trans Penning green corridor.
Six different house types will be built, all of traditional appearance and adding variety to the street scene.
One objection was received from an existing resident who claimed the development would prevent him from parking outside his own house. But officers said the road would eventually become adopted highway and there are no rights to park on the road.