Sefton approves 156 Southport homes off Bankfield Lane

Wainhomes’s plans for land off Bankfield Lane have been officially signed off after the National Planning Casework Unit decided not to call in the application.

The development will include 54 affordable homes on more than 12 acres, including five one-bedroom houses, 31 two-bedroom ones and 18 three-bedroom homes. The 102 market homes will be broken down into 26 one- and two-bedroom properties, 53 three-bedroom houses and 23 four-bedroom homes.  All of the houses have private offroad parking and fenced gardens.

The scheme is the second phase of a larger project from the Warrington-based housebuilder. The first phase is dedicated to building 128 homes, of which 49 are affordable.

Several nearby residents of the proposed development had submitted formal letters of objection to the project, and a petition with 46 signatures and endorsed by Cllr Lewis had also been submitted to the council. Local MP Damian Moore had also voiced his objection to the proposal. The majority of these objections stemmed from concerns regarding drainage, house design, knotweed and stresses on the existing infrastructure.

Sefton Council had originally approved the scheme in November but was waiting for the NPCU decision after the application had been referred to the planning body by a third party.

“As with all applications, Sefton Council’s planning committee considered all facets of a proposal very carefully, including taking into account all objections raised,” said a council spokesperson.

“Initially a decision on the plans was due to be made in November 2021 but the local authority agreed to delay its judgement in the light of objections raised to the proposals,” they continued.

“Now the National Planning Casework Unit has confirmed it does not need to ‘call in’ the decision for investigation and they have confirmed they are satisfied with Sefton’s analysis and due diligence of the application.”

Consultants on the project included Emery Planning, ERAP on ecology, Tylor Grange on arboriculture, Royal Haskoning DHV on air quality and noise and Weetwood on flood risk and drainage management. Burnley-based DGL Associates created the site layout.