Miller Homes' plan for 120 new houses in Moulton shelved

Miller Homes has withdrawn a planning application to build up to 120 homes on land at Niddries Lane.

The homebuilder submitted the application to Cheshire West and Chester Council nearly three years ago.

However, concerns and recommendations were raised by a number of organisations and nearby residents.

Moulton Parish Council, for one, asked the borough council to reject the application.

The parish council's objection letter said the area 'does not need a development of this size in this location' and that the continued growth of the village’s population is 'unsustainable'.

It also stated the development is likely to cause flooding on neighbouring agricultural land.

Additionally, local primary schools are at capacity while GP surgeries are not accepting new patients.

Aerial plan of the site (Image: CWAC)

On top of this, 97 public comments were submitted, almost all of which opposed the plans.

One resident of Niddries Lane said in 2021: “Moulton is a village and needs to stay this way.

“The development will have a severe impact on Niddries Lane and Moulton's wider traffic network.

“The development is unneeded due to the amount of other ongoing development in the Northwich and Winsford areas.”

Another neighbour said: "If approved, this would be a precedent to ignore and override any local concerns and objections.

“Being a rural village, there is already a lot of agricultural traffic along Niddries Lane which presumably won't end until all farmland is concreted over and replaced with an inordinate amount of car and van traffic.”

The design and access statement submitted as part of the planning application stated the development would deliver 'high quality new housing and provide a logical extension to the south of the village'.

It adds: “The proposals have been underpinned by good urban design principles and integrate into the site's surroundings, responding to the local context. It has also been shown that the layout has been designed to discourage antisocial behaviour and designed to help create community.

“The scale of development is in keeping with the surrounding context and the architectural detailing is contextually appropriate.

“In light of current national and local planning policies, the proposed development is considered to be acceptable in principle and will create an attractive and well-designed residential development.”

However, on Thursday (April 18), the application was formally withdrawn.