Muller Property Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 60-acre site in Winsford, Cheshire. The site has the potential to deliver around 645 new homes, including 30% affordable homes, as part of a sustainable, well-connected new neighbourhood.
The site comprises two adjoining parcels of land located to the east of Swanlow Lane (B5074) and to the south of Welsh Lane, approximately 2.5km south of Winsford Cross Shopping Centre. Located on the edge of Winsford and surrounded by established green spaces, including a 100-acre conservation area to the north, the site offers a significant opportunity to create a thoughtfully designed residential community that addresses local housing needs.
Michael Lovatt, Area Land Director at Muller Property Group, commented:
“This acquisition aligns with our strategy to deliver high-quality, sustainable residential communities in key regional locations. Winsford is a vibrant, well-connected town with strong local services and a pressing need for new housing, making it an ideal location for future development.”
Cheshire West and Chester Council set a housing delivery target of 560 homes for the 2023–24 period, significantly exceeded by actual completions of 1,399 homes. Previously, the council’s five-year housing supply target stood at 1,255 homes with a projected supply of 4,209 homes. However, following a review under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the updated five-year requirement now stands at 9,570 homes, or 10,049 when including a 5% buffer, representing only a 2.6-year Housing Land Supply (HLS). This shortfall highlights the critical need for deliverable residential development in the borough.
Cheshire West and Chester Council has also announced that a new Local Plan is being prepared, with the Regulation 18 Issues & Options phase scheduled to begin in summer 2025. The plan is expected to be adopted in Summer / Autumn 2027, reinforcing the importance of proactive land promotion during this transitional period.
Masterplanning and technical assessments are already in progress to support a comprehensive and sustainable planning application, with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening request scheduled to be submitted to Cheshire West & Chester Council later this summer. The development team will also be engaging with the local community, with a public consultation planned ahead of the submission of an outline planning application.
