Plans for 121 affordable homes to be built at a former Runcorn tannery site were given the go ahead at at a Halton planning meeting.

However, not all local residents are happy about it.

Applicants Magenta Living and Onward – formerly Liverpool Housing Trust, will be working in partnership to deliver the affordable housing scheme across three adjacent application plots.

The sites are former warehouses and depots at Halton Court, which is accessed off Halton Road and Stonehills Lane.

Residents from Stonehills Lane raised a number of concerns about the planning application at the meeting, including an 'unacceptable increase in traffic' on their road,  which they said was 'too narrow' to be used as the main access point for the new houses.

Councillor Dave Thompson, a member of the Development Control Committee, added that it was a 'shame' that a vacant site on Halton Road, one of the largest roads in the borough, had not been considered as an alternative access point to the development in order to alleviate concerns of local residents.

Other concerns raised by Stonehill Lane residents included problems with on-street parking , an increase in congestion on Halton Road junctions and noise pollution as a result of the construction scheme.

Residents had requested for the 11 houses being built on that site to be 'turned the other way round' in their representation, but this was rejected.

About a dozen residents turned up to the meeting, and expressed disappointment afterwards that their concerns 'were not listened to.'

The development committee agreed that the applicant had provided sufficient information to demonstrate that the development is acceptable in terms of design, highway safety, ecology, contaminated land and meets the council’s housing policy requirements and standards.

Existing buildings at the three application sites will now be demolished ahead of construction of the new homes.