Developer excited after being given green light for pioneering suburban development

DEVELOPERS Urban Splash say they are “excited” after receiving detailed planning consent for a new neighbourhood at Grappenhall Woods in Warrington – the final phase of the Homes England Grappenhall Heys scheme.

They say the approved plans will allow for the creation of a new kind of sustainable suburban neighbourhood of 228 contemporary homes set in a green wooded landscape linking with the existing mature woodlands that surround the site.

The designs feature a central green spine of 2,800 sq m of new public green space, play areas and over 900 new trees running through the length of the site open to all members of the local community.
The homes are strongly contemporary in look and feel with outstanding environmental performance credentials, high insulation and low energy usage, and are built using modern methods of construction (MMC)in the company’s own factory. Many of the house types offer buyers the ability to customize the internal floorplans to suit their own lifestyle and family makeup, from big open plan to more cozy subdivided spaces.
Andrew Johnston of House by Urban Splash said: “We’re really excited to be in a position to now start work on delivering this pioneering new neighbourhood at Grappenhall which we see as a new way of creating suburban homes for the 21st Century. Green-ness is at the heart of our vision here – both in terms of the amount of green space, trees and bio-diverse landscape, and in the environmental performance.
“Over the past 27 years, Urban Splash has become well-known for our work transforming existing buildings and run-down parts of cities and towns across the North West and beyond using great modern design and creating a strong sense of community. More recently, we have established an award-winning housebuilding business, which has seen us creating new residential neighbourhoods up and down the country. We really believe there is a different way of building homes and communities for the future and look forward to bringing that vision to life here in Grappenhall enabling people to live well by design.”
House by Urban Splash formed its partnership with Homes England and the world’s biggest Housebuilder Sekisui House in a £90m deal in 2019; it has since been appointed on new sites across the country including Inholm Northstowe in Cambridgeshire and Wirral Waters in Merseyside. In December 2020, Homes England appointed the company on the Grappenhall Woods neighbourhood.
All House by Urban Splash built homes are created using MMC to customer specifications; plans are sent to the company’s own factory in the East Midlands before being transported to site. Andrew concluded: “The approach greatly reduces build time and is a more sustainable solution to housebuilding. We can’t wait to give local people in Grappenhall and wider Warrington more details of the homes available in the coming weeks.”

But Local residents were left outraged by the planning committee decision and say they are considering their options, claiming the application wasn’t considered fairly.
The application was voted through by 7-4, with all Labour members of the committee voting in favour, while Lib Dem Judith Wheeler abstained.

Residents feel let down over “farcical” planning process after plan approved for 228 homes at Grappenhall Heys