Phase 1: Planning permission granted for 240 dwellings, providing 20% affordable housing, public open space and highways improvements.

The site measures approximately 9.25 ha (22.85 acres) and adjoins the northern eastern edge of Crewe, within the suburb of Sydney. Located approximately 1.5 km to the North East of Crewe Town Centre, the site is well served by local services and facilities which includes two primary and one secondary school; pubs, a railway station, supermarkets and a GP surgery.

The planning permission includes 0.7 ha of open space provision and a new site access off Sydney Road. The scheme provides for 20% affordable housing as well as contributions of £466,390 towards primary education; £506,623 towards secondary education and a £43,000 contribution for off-site footpath and cycle path improvements.

Phase 2: Planning permission for 275 dwellings was granted, providing 30% affordable housing.

The site forms part of a wider development for which we had previously secured planning permission for 240 dwellings and a new road access.

Muller contributed £495,00 for improvement works to either the Sydney Road Bridge or the Crewe Green roundabout, or both. In addition, a contribution of £553,000 towards the costs of Project Hungerford Primary Academy 1FE Expansion was made and £136,500 towards the costs of additional special educational needs accommodation at Park Lane School and/or Springfield School.

Securing planning for this site started with a public consultation to give residents the chance to view the plans and talk to members of the development team. The planning application was submitted two years later.

It was refused and an appeal was lodge against the non-determination of the planning application alongside an application for costs due to Cheshire East Council’s ‘unreasonable behaviour’.

The appeal was allowed and the Council’s Strategic Planning Boards resolved to remove the ‘putative’ reasons for refusal and not to contest the appeal.