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Controversial urban village agreed

Controversial proposals to build a 1,200-home urban village in Winnington, Cheshire have finally been passed by Vale Royal Borough's planning committee.

The council rejected five previous planning applications from the individual members of the consortium in November 2002. The approved application, submitted in August 2003, presents a united application and masterplan for the area.

The original plans aroused strong emotions from residents who feared Northwich's road infrastructure was not capable of supporting a development of the magnitude planned for the former works site.

Cheshire-based soda ash producer Brunner Mond, which owns of much of the land to be developed, is working with The Winnington Urban Village Consortium, a combination of the developers Taylor Woodrow, Morris Homes and Barratt Homes that submitted the revised application.

Brunner Mond employs around 2,500 local people and the development is designed to secure its presence in the region.

Site clearance and preparation could begin in 2004, with the first completed buildings expected by the end of 2005.

Mark Chitty, Brunner Mond's Director of Corporate Affairs, said: “We are delighted that the proposals for this unique opportunity to regenerate a massive redundant site in Northwich have been approved.”

“The Urban Village is a high quality scheme which will significantly raise the profile of the area, create new homes and new community facilities – and stimulate investor confidence in the town.”

The village will consist of up to 1,200 new residences ranging from one-bedroom apartments to six-bedroom family homes, plus extensive community facilities.

Designed to be 'people friendly', cycle routes and good public transport links have been incorporated to encourage people to leave their cars at home and reduce traffic congestion.