Mike Amesbury MP opposes Daresbury green belt housing plans

Mike Amesbury made the comments after more plans emerged to build homes on vast areas of green space in Daresbury and Sandymoor.

The Weaver Vale MP is asking residents to raise concerns in a consultation by Government agency Homes England over proposals for up to 850 houses, with a ‘tight’ response deadline of October 1.

There are plans for a 250-home extension to Sandymoor and a further 600 houses south of the Chester-Warrington railway line on farmers’ fields either side of Red Brow Lane in Daresbury.

This follows other greenfield schemes in the area either being built, or with planning permission, for almost 1,500 homes plus a large commercial development.

Mr Amesbury, who is Labour’s shadow housing minister, said: “I am all too aware we have a housing crisis that desperately needs addressing.

The Wharford development on Redbrow Lane

“I am pro-housing, but there needs to be a mix of tenures, including homes available for genuinely affordable rent with help for first-time buyers.

“Very importantly, it needs to be in the right place, which this is not.

“Homes England is working hand-in-glove with developers to achieve quick wins and big profits for shareholders, but at the expense of our precious green space.

“Enough is enough. There are run-down, previously developed areas in my constituency crying out for regeneration.

“If this scheme goes ahead, we will lose agricultural land, nature and wildlife will lose its habitat and residents will lose the ability to walk through a beautiful green space on the public footpaths that cross it.”

The MP, who aims to spearhead a campaign against the plan after receiving emails from a number of concerned constituents, added: “As well as a housing crisis we have an affordability crisis.

The site of the Redrow housing development on Delph Lane

“Many of the new houses being built at the moment are large executive homes out of most people’s reach.

“I will be interested to find out what proportion of the Homes England homes are available at affordable and social rent levels.

“I have also heard very little about the infrastructure that will support all these new houses – more than 2,330 in total across the area – in terms of roads, drainage, shops, schools and health facilities.”

The latest 850-homes plan follows other greenfield schemes locally, including a Homes England project for 335 homes under construction in Actons Wood Lane, an 800-homes Redrow development being built off Delph Lane and permission granted for 320,000square-feett of offices and up to 350 homes to the owners of the next door Daresbury Park.

In response to Mr Amesbury, a spokesman for Homes England said: “As the Government’s housing delivery agency, our role is to ensure more people in England have access to homes in well-designed places.

"That’s why we are working closely with Halton Borough Council to deliver its Local Plan, building on our successful delivery of homes and infrastructure in Sandymoor to date.

READ> Surprise party to celebrate nurse’s 20 years of NHS service

"We are proposing up to 850 new high quality homes in the area, including up to 120 affordable homes.”

“These sites have long been identified for housing, forming allocations within the adopted Halton Local Plan since 2005.

"Under our plans, the scheme will create local jobs and provide infrastructure such as new roads, a new canal bridge, and generous green spaces, supporting biodiversity.

"We are consulting on our proposals and will continue to engage with the local community, the local authorities and other partners as we further develop our proposals.”

Mr Amesbury would like concerned residents to email him at mike.amesbury.mp@parliament.uk or write to him at his office: Keckwick Lane, Halton, Daresbury, Warrington WA4 4FS.

To share your views with Homes England by the October 1 deadline, email sandymoorandwharford@hiveland.co.uk or write to Sandymoor and Wharford Consultation, c/o Hive Land & Planning, First Floor, Swan Buildings, Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JW.