Developer could appeal after council decision leaves 350-home plan in limbo

The controversial scheme was scuppered by a neighbouring council

Developers behind controversial housing plans recently scuppered by a neighbouring council are considering an appeal. The LDRS reported recently how a planned development with 350 homes in Cronton had hit the rocks after a vital access road application was thrown out by Knowsley Council.

Plans for the estate itself off Chapel Lane – most of which lay within the Halton boundary – had already been rubber-stamped by Halton Council weeks earlier. But it could not go ahead in its present form without the access road, which runs through Knowsley’s jurisdiction.

Its planning committee had already deferred a decision once so they could visit the area and view traffic first hand, and after convening for a second meeting threw the plans out.

The housing scheme by Taylor Wimpey had already faced stiff opposition from locals, with hundreds of objections being submitted, including one from Cronton Parish Council. Most concerns lay around perceived road safety issues. The Halton planning meeting in September had descended into chaos after being suspended due to shouts from the public gallery. The meeting had to be reconvened in a separate room where the Halton aspect of the plans were given the go-ahead.

But the decision by Knowsley left the scheme in limbo and the company said it is weighing up its options – but an appeal is one possibility.

A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: “Following Knowsley Council’s decision to refuse our planning application for access at Chapel Lane we are currently reviewing our options, including possible submitting an appeal. “

If an appeal was lodged it would fall to the Planning Inspectorate – an independent Government agency – to make a decisive ruling. Its verdict would override Knowsley’s decision and, if Taylor Wimpey was successful, Knowsley could incur costs.

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