Government backs giant housing plan (From Warrington Guardian)

Government backs giant housing plan

PLANS for nearly 300 homes to be built on the former home of Adtranz rail works in Crewe's West End has received Government support.

The Government Office for the North West has backed outline planning permission given by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council for the giant housing site off Dunwoody Way.

The move comes after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott rejected plans for 960 houses to be constructed on green land in Leighton west and Coppenhall east in September.

As part of the Local Plan, Cheshire County Council instructs Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council as to how many houses have to be built by 2011.

But Mr Prescott threw out the proposal because it went against Government policy to develop brown field sites ahead of green areas.

Borough council planning chairman Chris Thorley said: "The alternative site is on Dunwoody Way which is a brown field site.

"That is the reason for turning down the sites at Leighton and Coppenhall because they were both green field sites and traffic problems would further increase.

"Outline planning permission has been given and supported by the Government Office for the North West and we are now waiting for detailed plans to come through.

"I can see the application being finalised as quickly as the next few months."

The council's project manager Paul Urwin said: "Now that development will be confined to building on brown field land, the Borough Plan can forge ahead in the knowledge there's enough reusable land to meet local housing needs until the year 2011.

"This final stage enables Crewe and Nantwich to accommodate the economic and residential growth that is forecasted."

A healthcare centre, an opticians, a nursery and vets surgery was also earmarked for the site.