38 HOMES FOR ‘WATER MEADOW’ WITHDRAWN

Developer pulls application at last minute

DEVELOPERS behind plans for 38 new homes have withdrawn their application at the 11th hour amid concerns over flooding risks near a rail line.

The proposed scheme off Moss Lane, in Madeley, was due to be discussed by Newcastle Borough Council’s planning committee last night.

Officers were recommending that councillors refuse planning permission, although it’s not known if this was the reason for Prime Developers (Crewe) Ltd pulling the application.

Altogether, 23 letters of objection have been submitted, with issues including ‘over-development’, the narrow road and the impact on local services.

Residents have also pointed out the land, which is next to Rowley House, is a ‘water meadow’ and subject to flooding. As the West Coast Main

Line runs nearby, they fear any surface water run-off may cause the embankment to collapse.

Network Rail has also voiced concerns about the inadequate flood mitigation measures.

Richard Draper, senior asset protection engineer, said in an email to the council: “The remaining concerns (and the concerns throughout this whole process) are the flows towards Network Rail infrastructure, which will reduce the safety of the West Coast Main Line.”

A previous bid to build 42 homes on the site was approved back in 2015. It was at a time when the borough couldn’t demonstrate it had a five-year housing supply to meet demand, which it has since been able to do.

A subsequent application, detailing the design and layout, was refused and an appeal against this decision was dismissed. In the meantime, the original permission has lapsed.

The latest bid was for a slightly lower number of houses in order to deal with the planning inspector’s concerns.

It would have included 10 twobedroom bungalows, four detached five-bedroom houses, seven detached four-bedroom homes, 10 semi-detached three-bedroom houses and seven detached homes with two bedrooms.

Around a quarter of these homes would have been affordable housing.

The officers’ report to the committee said the principle of new housing and the design and access arrangements were ‘acceptable’. But it added: “The application has failed to address flood risk concerns.”

The developer has also yet to reach an agreement over financial contributions to local community facilities.

There would need to be £85,570 towards extra school places in Madeley and a further £212,002 would be required to go towards public open space.