CONTENTIOUS plans to build 120 homes on playing fields in Widnes have been dealt a hammer blow after the government body tasked with protecting grassroots sport lodged a formal objection.

The World reported recently how Miller Homes had submitted an application to Halton Council to build the new properties on land off Prescot Road, an area which is home to local playing fields.

The proposals sparked fierce opposition from local councillors and residents, with more than 2,000 people signing online petitions objecting. Now Sport England - a non departmental government body responsible for growing and developing grassroots sport - has lodged an objection, a move which could throw a major spanner in the works of the housebuilder's plans.

Sport England is a 'statutory consultee' which councils must consult on any planning application that might affect or lead to the loss of a sports playing field. In its objection, it said: "Sport England consider that the benefits of the proposal put forward by the applicant do not sufficiently outweigh or justify the significant loss of playing field land."

It added: "The size of the playing field at Prescot Road allows flexibility for the site to be used to accommodate a variety of sports which are also supported by ancillary facilities in the form of a pavilion and car parking area.

"Losing a significant portion of the playing field to housing restricts how the site can be used to meet changing needs and demands for sport, as there is potential if retained for the site to be reconfigured and used flexibly for several sports and pitch types."

Welcoming the move, Hough Green councillor Sandra Baker, said ‘’We have said from the outset that we are opposed to development of these playing fields, especially when there is already enough land allocated in the approved development plan for Halton."

"We will not become complacent. Welcome as this objection by Sport England is, we will continue to assemble the best possible opposition to this proposal by Miller Homes."

Miller is one of several home-builders to receive planning permission for schemes in Widnes over the last 18 months, with work on 328 properties at its site off Lunts Heath Road well underway. But the Prescot Road proposals have been controversial as the land is not earmarked for housing by the council, unlike the other schemes which have won approval. Instead, the land is slated for sporting/recreational green space.

Miller Homes declined to comment.