Plans for 220 'high quality' homes on ex green belt land in Garswood

Housebuilders Persimmon has launched a website to gauge feedback about the proposed development on a 24.75 acre site at Weathercock Hill Farm, situated around Billinge Road, Garswood Road, and Smock Lane.

Although the plans are in their very early stages, Persimmon hopes to use the feedback to build a detailed planning application on land allocated for housing in St Helens Council's Local Plan, which was removed from the green belt to help meet the borough's housing needs.

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What are the plans?

An artists impression of how the homes will look (Image: Persimmon)
Persimmon's website shows that around 220 new homes are proposed for the green belt land, comprising a mix of detached and semi-detached properties,

The scheme proposes a range of different housetypes, comprising bungalows, 2 and 3 storey family homes, as well as a number of apartment buildings at key gateway locations, from 1 to 5 bedrooms.

If the proposals go ahead, the housebuilders have committed to and "significant areas of new, attractive public open spaces, including a play area."

There will also be a provision of 30% affordable housing at the site, as well as new vehicle access, footways, and cycle paths in and around the development.

"New and improved" landscaping will also be a feature of the development if it goes through, to "enhance the ecological and biodiversity of the site".

Benefits and constraints

The properties would be a mix of properties from 1 to 5 bedrooms (Image: Persimmon)
The housebuilders state that the development will boost the supply of much needed homes in the borough, while also providing an affordable housing offer and improvements to local infrastructure.

New tree planting and open spaces will provide net gains for biodiversity in the area, the developers say.

The development would also create 140 jobs in the construction process, while bringing in an extra £350k in council tax receipts per year and £1.4m in new homes bonus payments to the council.

Nevertheless, building on (former or current) green belt land is always controversial and residents are often concerned about the impact on traffic and local infrastructure that such a development would bring.

Residents often suggest that more community amenities such as doctors, dentists, and schools would also be needed to help with the increased demand.

With the site historically used for open cast mining, and more recently for agricultural purposes, a water main pipeline has been found to run across the western part of the site.

The site is also located in a Flood Zone 1 so is at a low risk of flooding, although areas of potential overland flow has informed the locations of new homes.

For more information about the development and to submit feedback, you can visit Persimmon's website here.