Planning victory for residents

PLANNING chiefs have thrown out  outline proposals for nine houses on land off Grappenhall Road, Stockton Heath.
The decision represents a victory for Stockton Heath Parish Council and 20 nearby residents who had opposed the proposals.
Warrington Borough Council’s development management committee   refused consent for the development, despite planning officers recommending it be approved.
The parish council’s objections were on the grounds of access and highway safety . They argued that the narrow access road onto the busy A56 Grappenhall Road, located near a bend with poor visibility, posed highway safety dangers.
Nearby residents also expressed road safety fears. But additionally,  they  raised issues such as a loss of trees, damage to wildlife, over-development of the site, loss of privacy and the loss of an existing locally listed building which would have to be demolished to make way for the new properties.
Planning officers argued that the site was overgrown and untidy and was subject to trespass and anti-social behaviour.
Although a previous application for housing on the site had been refused, this had been solely on the grounds of an oversupply of housing. The situation had now changed and there were now no grounds to refuse an application on these grounds. But the committee decided to refuse permission.