PLANS to build 69 homes on a derelict industrial site are part of a masterplan to transform Helsby, say developers.
More than a decade after Brookhouse bought the former BICC site, the land surrounding Mere’s Edge in Helsby has been gradually transformed into a residential estate filled with dozens of houses and a Tesco supermarket.
Now developers have submitted plans to build a further 69 new homes on the neighbouring former Ineos site, which could see the brownfield site cleared of all industrial buildings and filled with family homes.
But residents living in the village are concerned that the influx of new homes will have a detrimental affect on local services, stretching school places and doctors services to beyond their limits.
Cllr Frank Thomas said residents wanted reassurances that the new developments would not overstretch the schools.
He said: “During the public exhibition, someone asked the question whether the services will be adequate to support the houses, especially at the schools.
“We don’t have an answer to this. We need to get to the bottom of this and find out from CWaC what is going to be done to support the services.”
But Brookhouse says the community has been adequately consulted with and seem positive about the regeneration of Mere’s Edge. It said: “The application is still in the early stages, but we will be looking at the local amenities and provisions as part of the application.
“We have had positive feedback from the parish council and residents.
“The area is derelict and regeneration is something they very much want to happen.”
To date, Cheshire West and Chester Council has approved plans for developers Brookhouse to build a 100-home retirement village, 156 homes on adjoining land, a sports facility and a Tesco supermarket as part of its masterplan to regenerate Mere’s Edge.
And since the start of the year, councillors have granted outline planning permission for developers to build 42 homes on the former BICC site subject to a section 106 agreement, and received plans for an extra care facility for 77 apartments on Cable Drive in Helsby.
