£8m affordable homes plan

AN £8.4 million plan for 78 “affordable” homes for rent has been submitted to Warrington planners – only months after an identical scheme was thrown out.
The scheme involves the former George Howard scrapyard in Folly Lane and also involves the demolition of an adjacent property.
Planners are now recommending it for approval and say it would make a valuable contribution towards on-going affordable housing requirements in the borough.
One objection has been received from a nearby residents who fears the development will result in “unsuitable” tenants being attracted to the area, bringing further anti-social behaviour.
The objector believes the development will also increase traffic problems and calls instead for regeneration of the area with more activities for teenagers and the unemployed to engage in.
In 2003, plans for 152 one and two-bedroomed apartments in three storey blocks were approved, and this approval still exists. But planners point out that this scheme has failed to attract developer interest.
The new scheme is for 19 two-bedroomed houses, 26 three-bedroomed houses, nine one-bedroom apartments and 24 two-bedroom apartments. They are all intended for the social rented sector.
Planners say research has shown that house-building creates about 1.2 full time equivalent jobs for every dwelling built.
They say: “The social role that planning should play revolves around the support it gives to maintaining strong, vibrant and healthy communities.
“The proposal makes provision for social housing and family accommodation that would complement the vibrancy of the local community.
“The environmental benefits of the proposal are clear, with the redevelopment of a former scrapyard.”
Planners say the earlier, identical scheme was refused because of concerns relating to its tenure and highway issues. But these issues have now been resolved.