Affordable homes plan

PLANS have been tabled for a development of “affordable” family homes in Culcheth, near Warrington.
The proposal is to create seven three-bedroom homes on the site of the former Mee Brow Community Centre at the corner of Churchill Avenue and Warrington Road.
All the properties on the site will be built and owned by Arena Housing Association, and will be available for rent only to selected council tenants, should the plans be given the green light.
Policy and Housing Strategy Manager for the borough council, Walter Manns, presented the plans to Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council -and there is also to be public consultation on the development.
According to a strategic housing market assessment, commissioned by the borough council, there is currently a predicted shortfall of 419 affordable homes in Warrington per year for the next five years.
Added to that, during the past five years the number of people on the council’s housing register has risen sharply from 2,600 in April 2003, to 11,773 at June 2008.
Mr Manns said: “The need completely out strips the potential supply. We are looking to have a public consultation in the coming weeks, submit the final plans sometime in August and hopefully start work on the site by the end of the year.”
Coun Keith Bland commented: “I would hope Culcheth residents, if they fit the criteria, would get first refusal on the properties.”
Coun Sue Bland added: “People who have been born and bred in Culcheth want to stay in the parish and I hope they would be selected for the site.”
Funding for the development has already been secured via a Social Housing grant, but because of the position of the land, it must be accepted as a rural exception site to be given the go-ahead.