Cheshire project will also include dozens of homes
New homes and a marina building are set to be built at Northwich’s Weaver Shipyard following years of hold-ups(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
A leisure marina and up to 83 homes at Northwich’s Weaver Shipyard have been approved – almost eight years after controversial plans were first outlined.
Cheshire West and Chester planners have backed a project to build a marina building at the site off Saxons Lane which will also include scores of homes, ranging in size between ‘cottage flats’ and four-bedroom houses. It follows years of wrangling, pushback and legal agreements.
An outline application was first submitted back in 2018 but met fierce opposition from local councillors and some residents, who raised concerns around issues like flooding and increased traffic.
An initial approval in principle was granted in 2020, but the full outline scheme was not signed off until 2022 – following lengthy discussions over legal agreements. A final, more detailed ‘reserved matters’ application – which contain more specific details on things like types of housing – was lodged almost exactly a year ago and has now been approved.
Developers H20 Urban – a partnership between The Canal & River Trust (CRT) and private development company Bloc – say the new structure will ‘enhance’ services for the existing marina business and support ‘improved mooring opportunities’ within the marina and along the River Weaver front.
Around 30 per cent of the homes will be made available under Government mandated affordability schemes.
Concerns had been raised by Northwich Town Council regarding highway safety from traffic congestion – specifically on Darwin Street – and impact on biodiversity.
Outlining issues around access, a planning officer’s report said: “The proposal will be served by a single access from Saxon Way leading to a secondary access upon entering the site along the top of the marina leading to dwellings and the marina building to of the northeast as shown on indicative plans.”
It added: “The main spine road will still continue round to the site leading to the southwest corner with accesses leading from the spine road into residential cul-de-sacs.”
Northwich Rowing Club objected to bank moorings on the main length of the Weaver Navigation which it said would ‘impede the ability to row and organise racing events’.
Council planners said a condition was proposed to prohibit vessels being moored perpendicular to the bank on the Navigation.
A total of nine objections from members of the public were also received.
Recommending approval, officers said: “It is considered the proposed dwellings would accord with the character of surroundings with regard to their appearance, layout and scale. The landscape scheme is considered acceptable.”
