PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have given the go-ahead for an £8.4 million development of “affordable” rented homes – only months after rejecting an identical scheme on the same site.
The 78 properties will be built on the former George Howard scrapyard in Folly Lane, Warrington by Mulbury Homes.
Planners say the development will make a valuable contribution towards meeting the on-going requirement for affordable housing in the borough.
Only one objection was received – from a nearby resident who feared the scheme would attract “unsuitable” tenants, increasing problems of anti-social behaviour in the area.
He also predicted increased traffic problems and suggested the site should be redevelopment with activities for teenagers and the unemployed.
The approval, by the borough council‘s development management committee, ends years of uncertainty.
In 2003, plans for 152 one and two-bedroomed apartments in three storey blocks were approved, and this approval still existed. But because of the economic situation, 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.
An earlier identical scheme was refused because of concerns relating to its tenure and highway issues. But these issues have now been resolved.
They say the development will bring clear benefits to the borough, providing new affordable housing on land which was formerly a scrapyard.
