Flats approved – at the second time of asking

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have approved proposals for a three-storey block of retirement flats on the site of a former farm – at the second time of asking.

The scheme on the site of the former Orford Farm, in School Road, Orford was opposed by nearby residents when it came before the borough’s development management committee in September – and was thrown out.
But now after the development proposals were reduced from 50 to 45 flats the committee has given it the go-ahead – despite some nearby residents maintaining their opposition.
The objectors argued that the scheme would have too great an impact on an already over-developed area , with increased traffic, noise and light pollution.
They believed the area should be developed for family housing.
But officers said the application was for a residential development in a residential area on a site that is currently vacant
.
They believed there would be no unacceptable impacts on the amenity of the area, nor on highway safety, drainage, ecology or residential amenity. The development would make an important contribution to increasing the council’s supply of housing land for a type of residential development for which there is evidence of a need in the borough.
The development would also have no impact on a pair of gate piers which are Grade 2 Listed and are all that remains of the 18th century Orford House which was demolished in the 1970s.
Although some trees would, unfortunately, be lost they would be replaced.
The site at one time housed a sex fetish club with rooms resembling ing a dungeon, a pigsty, a head teacher’s study, a medical room and a school room.
The buildings were demolished after a fire devastated the site in March 2012, causing more than £500,000 worth of damage. Two teenagers were later jailed for arson