MORE than 100 new homes are set to be built across two brownfield sites in Ellesmere Port.

Galliford Try had worked with Cheshire West and Chester Council on plans to build 55 new homes on the site of the former Atherton County Primary School, in Regent Street, and another proposal for 52 homes at the former Rivacre Business Centre, in Mill Lane.

And at the planning committee meeting on Thursday, January 23, CWaC members gave the green light to approve both developments.

The Rivacre scheme, which includes 16 affordable homes, proved the most contentious – with residents concerned about a loss of hedgerow in Woodchurch Lane, to the eastern side of the development.

Mark McDowell, of Woodchurch Lane, told the committee: “Mill Lane is keeping its hedgerow, resulting in the proposal not impacting them. Why are we being treated differently?

“Those hedgerows are a habitat for wildlife, including nesting birds and foxes.”

Mr McDowell also raised concerns that there would be an increase in traffic and on-street parking in Woodchurch Lane if the development was concerned.

Cllr Nicole Meardon, Labour member for Sutton Villages, told the committee that she was ‘glad to see this land being utilised for much-needed housing’ – but had been contacted by a number of Woodchurch Lane residents with the same concerns as Mr McDowell.

During the debate, Cllr Charles Fifield, Conservative, asked whether the plans for parking arrangements could be tweaked to keep more of the hedge in Woodchurch Lane, but planning officer Fiona Hore insisted the current layout worked best for its design.

Cllr Paul Rooney, Labour, said: “This is a sensible site – plenty of open space.

“I take the residents of Woodchurch Lane’s point that they’ve never had anything in front of them apart from a school, but it was behind a hedge, so it will take a bit of getting used to.

“But looking at the layout I do think that’s it’s probably the best use of the space available.”

The plans for the former Atherton Primary were more straight forward for the planning committee, who were told the site had become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour following the school’s demolition in 2013.

Galliford Try’s scheme includes another 16 homes, and the plans had been amended following comments made by neighbouring residents before the application was lodged with CWaC.

“Having had a look at the site yesterday I think that there is a lot to recommend it,” said Cllr Gina Lewis, Labour.

“Obviously it is in a sustainable area, there are shops nearby and you have got a school quite close to the site as well.”

Both schemes were approved unanimously by the planning committee.