Green light for 850-home masterplan in Crewe

Cheshire East Council’s Planning Committee has granted outline permission for an 850-home masterplan brought forward by Bloor Homes and Vistry Partnerships.

Each developer will build half of the homes, with the scheme forming part of the Council’s wider North West Crewe Package which will see £36.5m invested in the area’s highways and infrastructure.

Situated on Leighton Road, the site comprises 117 acres surrounding Leighton Hospital and initial plans include space for a 4,400 sqm local retail centre and land reserved for a primary school.

The masterplan also features high-quality open spaces including play areas, sports pitches and allotments. Existing trees will be retained where possible, and additional hedgerows will be planted along with the creation of ponds and other ecological areas.

Following the decision by Cheshire East Council to approve the plans, 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.”

By bringing forward the development, both Vistry Partnerships and Bloor Homes are seeking to address the local housing need head-on by delivering a range of homes that also supports the Council’s expansion plans for Crewe.

Rhys Nicholson, Managing Director of Bloor Homes North West, commented: “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 approved application is the first joint scheme brought forward by Vistry Partnerships and Bloor Homes in the North West after the two organisations created a joint partnership to bring this strategic site to fruition. Avison Young was the consultant responsible for bringing forward the application, acting as lead planning and environmental advisor and was instrumental in the success of securing the consent.