Councillors have granted outline permission for an 850-home development close to Leighton Hospital on the outskirts of Crewe.
The scheme forms part of Cheshire East Council’s wider North West Crewe Package and a £36.5 million investment in the area’s highways and infrastructure.
The 117-acre site surrounds Leighton Hospital and initial plans include space for a retail centre and land reserved for a primary school.
The masterplan also features open spaces including play areas, sports pitches and allotments.
Minshull Vernon and District Parish Council objected to the plans along with a number of residents, citing increased traffic problems and pressures on local services.
But planning officers have okayed the scheme after imposing Section 106 conditions including major financial contributions for more community services and improvements to highways.
Two developers Bloor Homes and Vistry Partnerships will build half of the homes each.
In their report, Cheshire East Council planners stated: “The application is subject to a viability appraisal, which is accepted, and concludes that a fully policy compliant scheme is not viable on this site when all the Section 106 requests are considered, including the required contribution to the highway works.
“Whilst not all the 106 Section contributions are being fully met, on balance the application is considered acceptable and will bring forward this important Local Plan Strategy site to help deliver housing and infrastructure for Crewe.”
Ian Hilliker, Managing Director of Vistry Partnerships North West, said: “Through careful consideration of the needs of Crewe we have created a robust plan which fits both our growth aspirations and that of the local area.
“Once built, the site will boast high-quality housing in an accessible location, and the new community facilities will benefit residents, old and new.
“We are thrilled Cheshire East Council supports our plans, and we hope to submit a reserved matters application in the not too distant future.”
Rhys Nicholson, Managing Director of Bloor Homes North West, added: “We are delighted to have received a positive planning decision.
“This is the culmination of many years of hard work and constructive engagement with officers of Cheshire East Council.
“We now look forward to completing the detailed design phase of the project with a view to continuing Bloor Homes’ delivery of much needed new homes for this area as soon as possible.”
The roads in Crewe can’t cope as it is, they’re approving too many houses and its mayhem, wants wrong with rest of Cheshire East why always Crewe?
No new housing is high quality. They are built as fast and as cheap as possible.
Pity they can’t use a bit of this land to provide adequate parking for the hospital.
Management (who no doubt have allocated parking) think everyone should use public transport, but not an option for people in rural areas. These are sick people you know!