Homes may be built at air-raid site

HOMES could be built at a farm in Hale Village near Widnes on the edge of a Second World War unexploded bomb boundary after plans were handed over to Halton Council.

A barn could be converted at Ramsbrook Farm from offices to five homes and garages.

The plans also seek to demolish industrial sheds and redevelopment work to provide 14 new cottages with garages at the site on Ramsbrook Lane.

A planning statement for the project submitted by Emery Planning said that the site contains former brick built farm buildings, a farmhouse and barns which have been converted into an office and commercial accomodation.

It added that the industrial sheds earmarked for demolition were last used to store ‘bulky’ telcommunications equipment.

The statement said: “It is considered that there is little demand for the continued use of the site for commercial/ employment uses.

“The existing tenants are in the pro- cess of relocating from the site and it has been difficult to attract new tenants.

“Following the relocation of the existing tenants, given this lack of demand, it is likely that the buildings will remain vacant unless the site is used for alternative uses.”

The homes which would be built on the site of the converted barn and demolished sheds would be set around three courtyards, accessed via a one-way system.

However, a desk study report of the site by Betts Associates also as part of the application said that it sits of the border of a high/low risk Second World War unexploded bomb map.

The map produced by Zetica included in the report shows Liverpool being at ‘high’ risk with Widnes deemed a ‘low’ risk area.

The report said that the surrounding area was heavily industrialised and a target for the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.

It said that bombs are ‘known to have landed’ within the site’s vicinity during 1940 and 1941.

It advises either Zetica or a similar unexploded ordnance specialist to conduct a risk assessment.