Cheshire East Council has welcomed the government's backing for 14 garden village developments across the UK, including a scheme at Handforth.
The emerging master plans for the North Cheshire Garden Village, which will be subject to planning approvals, could see the development of some 1,650 new homes on Green Belt land on the eastern edge of Handforth. The scheme includes affordable and starter homes for young people, family houses and tailored accommodation for older people.
It will also include 'self-build housing plots' for those who want to design and construct their own homes.
Councillor Jamie Macrae, chairman of Engine of the North, the council-owned company which is developing the masterplan, said: "This is an innovative approach to residential development, which will lead to new and sustainable communities complete with the required infrastructure, such as schools, health facilities and sports and leisure amenities.
"We are pleased the government has given the green light to this concept of development and we feel the site at Handforth is an ideal location.
"There is a need for new homes in the borough and across the country as a whole."
The 102 hectare site is situated off the A34 to the east of Handforth Dean, and has been allocated within the council's updated Local Plan, which has broadly been endorsed by the planning inspector.
Seventy hectares of land are owned by the council and Engine of the North will work in collaboration with adjoining landowners and stakeholders to bring forward this village development.
The Council says the garden village would involve areas of green landscaping with trees and open spaces, incorporating new green transport links, cycle ways to existing transport hubs, and nearby shopping centres.
Aerial view proposed site.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
2. On green belt: umm is there no brownfield land available?
3. What size (no. of bedrooms) and what price for starter homes?
4. Famly houses: umm o.k. What size? What range of sizes? What prices?
5. Tailored accommodation for older people: umm o.k. Built by one of the large developers of retirement/care homes? If so, who? Prices?
6. Self-build? Umm o.k. Who will decide on the planning aspect of these? Must these houses conform to being approx. the same as the majority of houses to be built? Or will different designs and different building materials be allowed?
7. How many schools? Or rather how many school places?
8. What is a 'health facility' in this particular context?
9. What 'sports and leisure amenities' in this particular context?
10. What proportion of the 102 hectares would be 'green landscaping'?
Councillor Macrae may well be correct in what he says. But 'the devil is in the detail' and so we need to see the details befoe we can back or oppose this scheme?
No one of my generation (under 25s) can even comprehend buying/renting a property in the Wilmslow/Alderley area currently, and the majority of Cheshire east for that matter! So if this can provide affordable housing within reach of both Alderley/Wilmslow and commutable to Manchester, it would be perfect. Handforth station would however need some considerable infrastructure improvements to cope with the extra commuters.
If this turns out to be an affordable development and doesn't become another "Jones Villas", losing the spot of greenbelt might just be worth it!
there is a brand-new Medical Centre in Alderley Edge.
Though it was paid for by the Parish Council.
Mayhaps Handforth Parish Council will need to start stuffing money into their piggy bank ?