Croxton Lane homes plan scaled back amid NHS and school concerns

An application for dozens of new affordable homes on land off Croxton Lane has been revised.

Having seen their pitch for 74 properties met with criticism, Breck Homes is hoping their 66-home plan will go down better.

However, multiple nearby residents have been quick to raise objections.

One neighbour said: “Middlewich cannot withstand any more housing without significant changes in infrastructure.”

Another added: “I wish to object strongly to this application due to existing and ongoing traffic congestion, parking concerns, safety concerns due to the dangerous one car wide bridge over the river, and lack of facilities such as GPs, dentists, and school places to service an additional 66 houses.”

Proposed site layout (Image: CWAC/Breck)

Cheshire East Council previously approved an application to build 52 homes on the land to the east and west of Croxton Lane in April 2023.

That scheme was submitted by Brenig Construction Ltd, Anwyl Land Ltd & Mrs D M Frances-Hayhurst Foundation.

Then, at the end of last year, Breck Homes submitted an application for 74 affordable homes.

“The homes will make an important contribution to delivering Cheshire East Council’s supply of housing land delivery requirement,” read the application.

“The 100 per cent affordable rent homes will address an affordable housing need and contribute to suppling a mix of homes that will contribute to establishing a balanced community.”

However, dozens of residents and several organisations objected to the plans.

“It is clear that the service resources in Middlewich are currently strained and will soon be overwhelmed by the large housing development to the south of the town,” read a comment submitted by Middlewich Town Council.

“As such there is real doubt that families moving to Middlewich will be able to access NHS services or gain school places.

“This is the wrong type of development in the wrong location and its approval would not serve the interests of Middlewich as a key service area or any future residents of this development.”

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board stated that local GPs' waiting lists have ‘significantly increased’ in recent years.

As such, new infrastructure and contributions would be required to avoid the development impacting on the practices’ appointment provision.

Meanwhile, Cheshire East Council’s children’s services believe the development would ‘exacerbate’ the shortfall of secondary school places in the area and therefore echoed calls for developer contributions.

Residents have until September 12 to submit comments on the revised plans.

The application, number 23/4559C, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council’s website.