Plans for homes on former green belt in Newton-le-Willows refused

In 2022 Wain Homes had their initial controversial proposals for 99 houses on land west of Mill Lane, on the edge of Newton-le-Willows, refused by St Helens Council's planning committee.

Part of the proposed site has been removed from the green belt as part of the Local Plan but the northern part where an access and emergency link road was proposed remains safeguarded.

The applicant submitted new plans for the project last year. A design and access statement prepared by agents Emery Planning on behalf of applicant Wain Homes, had claimed "this revised application has addressed the reasons for refusal for application dealing with highways, design, drainage, ecology, noise and air quality".

It added the site "comprises a triangular-shaped field of arable grassland with trees and some planting along the western boundary".

The application stated that "in the emerging local plan, approximately 50 per cent of the site is identified as white land (the application site) and the remainder as safeguarded land". It was said following pre-application advice "the proposed dwellings are on the white land".

However, the statement adds that "the applicant has an overall masterplan vision for the site", which includes for up to 300 homes.

It adds that "the proposal would deliver 30 per cent affordable housing".

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The application said the scale of the proposed dwellings "is largely two-storeys and would be constructed in facing brick and roof tile" adding "this would reflect the character and appearance of the surrounding residential development".

It was added "the applicant accepts that the access to the site requires land designated as safeguarded land in the adopted local plan and that this access and road would not meet criteria 3 of Policy LPA05.

"However, that conflict is limited as there is no material planning harm from the approval of this application as it would not prejudice the delivery of the safeguarded land given that that land would require the same access point as the proposed application and the route of the revised access road enables options for a layout once the site is allocated through a subsequent plan review".

The housing scheme has been refused again (Image: Stock)

Plans would be 'harmful to general character of area'

A report by planning officer Stephen Gill said the proposed scheme conflicted with planning policy said: "Whilst it is noted that the site is safeguarded for potential development in the future, at this time there is no evidence that guarantees that the site will be brought forward for development".

It was added that as with the previous planning application "the development still proposes the formation of an access road and emergency access link through safeguarded land, which would provide an access route to the development.

"The provision of an access road and emergency access road through safeguarded housing site 5HS is a form of development that conflicts with the requirements of Policy LPA05 of the St Helens Local Plan."

Mr Giill added the proposed development "would, by virtue of its design and layout, result in a visually isolated form of development that would be harmful to the general character and appearance of the area".

He also said the applicant "has failed to adequately evidence an appropriate and usable provision of public open space on the site within the development" and failed to provide "an adequate landscape scheme" and "sufficient mitigation planting for the loss of trees" and an "acceptable drainage strategy."

The planning officer added the applicant "has failed to make any formal commitment to provide the required financial contributions towards education provision and the St Helens Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan."

St Helens Council has refused the plans (Image: St Helens Star)

The report added: "It is fully noted that the applicant has resolved some of the previous reasons for refusal" and "it is also fully acknowledged that the applicant has submitted a revised scheme on the March 12, 2024, and further information on the March 14.

"However, the LPA have not had enough time to reconsult with key consultees in relation to the revised scheme, as the extension of time for a decision end on the March 15, 2024.

"Therefore, the assessment in this report and the outcomes are based on the scheme that was submitted with the application on September 1, 2023."