275 canalside homes aimed at young families

10:11am Thursday 24th August 2006

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A SLEEPY area of town could be reinvigorated' by a canalside housing scheme - though it has raised traffic concerns on crowded Chester Road.

Peel Holdings wants to build 275 homes in Lower Walton to attract young families, with the lower proportion of school age children in Warrington.

The firm said that the mix of seven-storey apartment blocks and houses called Walton Lock' will make it one of the desirable places to live in Warrington.

Although Peel's consultants believe the homes will have no adverse impact' on traffic, it has been the main concern of residents since the plan was consulted on last year.

Peel plans to install traffic lights at the Taylor Street junction with Chester Road and its consultants have told the borough council: "There can be no highways or traffic grounds for refusing this application."

Clr Ted Finnegan, for Latchford West, said: "I would also expect residents of the wider Gainsborough Road and Chester Road area to object due to the increased impact of traffic. Chester Road is already a very busy and difficult road to negotiate."

"Many people living nearby would object to having others in higher level properties being able to see into their back gardens."

The site will have a ratio of 1.9 apartments to each house and is mainly on the site of a former timber yard bounded by the canal, Chester Road and Cranborne Avenue.

Peel said the development would help cut a substantial and growing commuting gap'. Figures show 102,000 people work in Warrington, but only 91,200 people from Warrington work.

Peel's plan also involves improving the Trans Pennine Trail and wildlife conservation area.

The application is likely to go before the planning committee this autumn.

Click here for a larger image of the Walton Lock development.