HERE is a look at five planning stories that we have covered in the Star during November.
307 homes in Rainford approved
The planning committee at St Helens Council approved the development of 307 houses in Rainford. A decision on the application – which related to a site located on the corner of Higher Lane and Rookery Lane p- was made at the committee’s town hall meeting on Tuesday, November 7.
The controversial proposals attracted more than 200 resident objections.
However, Cllr Richard McCauley – the cabinet member for regeneration and planning – said in the meeting "something seems to be missed in all of this" and that there is an "absolute housing crisis going on in this borough".
He also said "most people who object to new housing have already got a house and they don’t see, or don't choose to see, that housing crisis".
The application was approved, subject to conditions and a legal agreement – with authority delegated to the head of planning to add, amend, or remove conditions as they deem necessary.
Read the full story here.
£3m sports facility at Moss Nook
A £3m outdoor sports facility is set to be created at the site of a new housing development.
Harworth Group plc, a regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, has announced that its plans to develop the facility at its Moss Nook development have been approved by St Helens Council.
The plans for the Parr site will see four new sports pitches created for Penlake Juniors FC as well as a multi-use changing room and car park.
The site at Cromdale Grove is the second phase of development at Moss Nook, with the first phase including 258 new homes currently under construction and new spine road between Watery Lane and Sutton Road – Provenance Avenue – which opened in December 2022.
The 95-acre Moss Nook site, just over a mile to the south of St Helens town centre, has an outline planning consent for 900 new homes.
Read the story here.
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168 homes at former glassworks in Sutton
Plans for more than 160 houses at a former glassworks site were granted permission.
Stanley Land and Homes has received planning permission to create 168 new affordable homes to regenerate a site off Lancots Lane in Sutton.
Works are expected to begin on the project in January on the collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, being developed in partnership with housing provider Torus.
Read the story here.
MOT Centre and garage
Plans were drawn up seeking to convert a vehicle salvage yard into a general garage and MOT centre.
Proposals for the change of use at Jackson Street Salvage, Fingerpost.
The current use of the site is for vehicle repairs and the dismantling of motor vehicles.
The plans say the site will see general vehicle repairs and MOT testing. It adds there will be machinery used, air compressors, power tools and vehicle lifts "all currently fitted and in use in the unit by the existing use".
Council planners are expected to decide on the application by January 4, 2024.
Read the story here
Newton-le-Willows 99 homes
New plans for nearly 100 homes on former green belt land which were previously refused have been submitted.
The Star reported last year after Wain Homes had its controversial proposals for 99 houses on land west of Mill Lane, on the edge of Newton-le-Willows, refused by the council's planning committee. Among the reasons cited for the refusal was that the northern part of the site where an access and emergency link road was proposed remains safeguarded.
In the new plans by Wain Homes, it was said "this revised application has addressed the reasons for refusal for application dealing with highways, design, drainage, ecology, noise and air quality".
It added that "the proposal would deliver 30 per cent affordable housing".
The application says the scale of the proposed dwellings "is largely two-storeys and would be constructed in facing brick and roof tile" adding "this would reflect the character and appearance of the surrounding residential development".
The new application has sparked some objections, with one resident claiming that the development would set “a dangerous precedent for ignoring the Local Plan, and as such, should be rejected outright".
A decision deadline has been set on the application for January 24, 2024.
Read the full story here.
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