After years of legal disputes, a new leisure marina and up to 83 homes are set to be built on the site of a former shipyard in Northwich, Cheshire. The development, which was first approved by Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2020, will feature a range of properties from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom homes, with a third of the homes classified as “affordable.”
The outline planning application for the project, located off Saxon Lane, was met with fierce opposition from local councillors and some residents who raised concerns about flooding and increased traffic in the area. An initial approval in principle was granted in 2020, but the full outline scheme was not signed off until 2022.
Northwich Town Council also expressed concerns about the impact on biodiversity in the region. However, a more detailed “reserved matters” application, which included specifics on the types of housing, was lodged almost a year ago and has now been approved, paving the way for construction to begin.
The development will transform the former Weaver Shipyard, with the leisure marina and mix of residential properties set to revitalise the site. The project is expected to provide a range of housing options, including affordable homes, to meet the local demand.
Despite the initial opposition, the approval of the detailed plans suggests that the development has overcome the legal hurdles and is now ready to move forward. The project is set to bring a new chapter to the Northwich area, with the leisure marina and variety of homes set to reshape the local landscape.