Saughall and Shotwick Park could achieve its hopes of building affordable homes

Jul 27 2010 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

A VILLAGE could achieve its hopes of building affordable homes and help to hit carbon friendly targets at the same time.

Parish councillors in Saughall and Shotwick Park have been pressing for a scheme on former Cheshire County Council land at Lodge Lane for a number of years.

Cheshire West and Chester Council, which has inherited the land, says it has now taken another look at the issue.

It is planning to assess the potential for an affordable housing scheme with the highest level of sustainable design.

This would include very high insulation standards, rainwater harvesting, photo electric cells, specialist heating systems and solar gain.

If it is possible to develop such a scheme, this would be “a real coup” for both Cheshire West and Chester and more importantly Saughall, parish councillors are due to hear at a meeting on Monday (August 2).

Officials at Cheshire West and Chester Council believe that at present there is no other scheme or development in the borough which meets this “exceptionally high level”.

The scheme is said to be at the feasibility stage with a long way to go including consultation with local people, planning permission and funding.

The prospect has been advertised in a specialist magazine and interested parties have until August 20 to come forward.

At that point, there would be further discussions between Cheshire West and Chester and the parish council.