GRANGE FARM – BRIEFING FOR MEMBERS

Rejection of the last planning application resulted in no further development being considered until 2016.  That date is still current.

However, it has come to our notice that legislation being introduced by the Coalition government, currently at the committee stage, and likely to come before Parliament following the summer recess, revokes all such dates.

Allied to this, in 2008 the then government announced that West Cheshire would be one of 20 new growth points in England and one of six in the northwest.  Subsequently, Cheshire West and Chester Council undertook a strategic housing land availability assessment (SHLAA) to identify how many units could be accommodated off identified sites and the timeframes for when these sites were likely to be available.  The Grange Farm site was one of these, with an estimated delivery time frame of six to ten years for 300 potential dwellings.   If the legislation is passed, that time frame is redundant.

Harrow Estates (Redrow) is working on the assumption that will happen.  The Civic Society understands that the company is preparing an outline planning application to be submitted later this year, with a full application next year and building commencing end 2012.

As a matter of urgency, the Civic Society committee and the Parish Council are meeting to discuss how best to respond.  We believe it to be vitally important that we move together in unison and we are hopeful that a joint action group will be formed with the power to co-opt experts. 

If you are able to help in any way, either as experts in planning regulations, etc or in assisting with mail drops, petitions, etc please email me at jswaf@talktalk.net

We will provide more information following the joint meeting.

John Swaffield

Secretary

Hartford Civic Society

22 July 2011

PS:  Another site in Hartford identified in the Council’s SHLAA is Hollies Farm, with a total potential of 852 dwellings (352 dwellings in supply years 2011-15 and 500 dwellings 2016 –17).  If the planners and builders are successful, the detrimental impact on Hartford of the Grange Farm development (300 dwellings) and the Hollies Farm development (852 dwellings) will be significant and totally change the nature of the area where we have chosen to live.