Bid to build homes on Widnes car park
● A CAR park in a Widnes neighbourhood with high rate of antisocial behaviour (ASB) and crime could be reconfigured and turned into homes.
Plans have been handed over to Halton Borough Council for eight semi-detached houses on Montogmery Road.
The proposals from Halton Housing Trust (HHT) propose two three-bedroom and six two-bedroom houses with front and rear gardens.
The current car park would be reconfigured for 22 vehicles.
A design and access statement accompanying the proposals said HHT has identified a ‘need’ for affordable home ownership in Widnes due to ‘short supply’ in the area and high house prices.
The proposed homes at the site would be ‘rent to buy’, a Government scheme designed to help the transition to home ownership through subsidised rent.
The planned site has received support and funding from the Homes And Communities Agency to be developed.
The statement said the site is currently used by residents for car parking and is surrounded by three sides by a public footpath and other houses.
Consultations were launched with residents, Cheshire police, and Halton Borough Council’s planning and wate recycling departments.
Community safety officer Mark Antrobus was consulted on crime issues, the document said, and mentioned the area of Montgomery Road and the Ditton and Riverside wards have ‘one of the highest rates for ASB and crime’.
He said: “Any regeneration will certainly improve the area.”
Comments from residents led to the scheme’s car park layout being revised and paved areas for manoevring bins for waste collection will also be improved.
The statement’s summary said: “We believe that the proposal will provide much needed, affordable, environmentally sustainable family houses on a site in sustainable location in Widnes.
“The scheme has been carefully designed to complement existing development in the area and to comply with all relevant design guidelines and regulations.
“It also maintains and enhances the provision of local resident car parking on the site and pedestrian routes around and across the site.
“The extensive soft landscaping – trees, hedging, shrubs and turfed gardens will both enhance the appearance of the development and the biodiversity of the area.”