The fate of some playing fields in Northwich which campaigners say are vital to the local community will be decided in the coming weeks.

A planning application has been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council by HBV Northwich Limited and Griffiths Park Land Limited to build 46 ‘affordable’ homes and a three-storey, 66-bed care home on St Johns Playing Fields in Rudheath.

The homes would consist of one, two, three and four-bed properties, with 16 flats and 30 houses. The scheme would also involve the demolition of a business premises on Middlewich Road.

But Rudheath Parish Council - backed by local campaigners - hope to scupper the plans and have submitted an application to Cheshire West and Chester’s planning department for the site to be listed as an Asset of Community Value. A decision is expected in the next three weeks.

An asset can be listed if its main use furthers the social wellbeing or cultural, recreational or sporting interests of the local community.

When a listed asset comes to be sold, any sale is suspended for up to six months to enable community groups to raise finance, develop a business plan and make a bid to buy it on the open market.

The land at Griffiths Park was bought from ICI for £1 in 2004.

Rudheath Parish Councillor Olwyn Dean, one of the organisers behind the campaign to save the playing fields, said: "It's been a community field for upwards 100 years that we know of.

“But it's so important because it is it's an open green space, of which there are few around Northwich where you can actually go and it is truly open.

"The football pitch itself is the only 'free at the point of use' field in Rudheath. We have two football teams that play on it every week."

She added: "Also, we've got an awful lot of elderly people who like to go out for a walk and get some fresh air so we've got benches all around the field. We've got two or three gents who meet up regularly on there, elderly gentlemen, including one who's got the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. This is the opportunity to get out there and do something.

"We've had people who have had social anxiety, especially following Covid when they've been trapped inside and they go on there now because they know it's a safe environment.”

A letter submitted by planning consultants Avison Young in support of the application said: “The high quality housing will contribute towards and identified need for affordable dwellings within the local authority and will be supported by appropriate car parking and landscaping.”

To view or comment on the application visit the council’s planning portal here and search for 22/04436/FUL. To view and comment on the Asset of Community Value application, search for 22/04282/ACV.