Key Labour members have expressed resentment over council plans for housing development in Ellesmere Port.
They have said that Cheshire West’s draft plan, which it has been working on for four years, is too dependent upon the release of greenfield sites as opposed to the redevelopment of one-time industrial land.
The construction of almost 5,000 homes has been recommended before 2033, meaning a lot of development work would be necessary. Locals are thought to be welcoming the introduction of the new properties, however, and companies providing loft conversions in Cheshire may well see sharp increases in business.
Ex-Neston and Ellesmere Port Chairman Councillor Mark Hensey thinks the plan fails to give adequate support in developing the nearby brownfield sites which are no longer being used. He explained:
“These sites, together with the Peel Holdings Riverside development, would more than meet the housing need for Ellesmere Port well into the middle of this century.”
He went on to suggest that the draft plan insults the town’s development by allowing significant building work to occur on greenfield sites such as Backford and Ledsham Park.
Labour says that Ledsham Road, where 1,500 homes have been proposed, should not be subjected to any development. However, Councillor Mike Jones made the point that the ex-Labour administration for the town extracted the land from the green belt.
He added that a report regarding plans for the centre of Ellesmere Port is set to be submitted early next month.
