Cheshire: Councillors' plea to stop 500 homes on area's 'green lung'

Harworth Group has submitted a hybrid application for the new properties in Halebank - ranging in size from one to five bedrooms. There would also be up to 2,000 square metres for a local centre, as well as land reserved for a new primary school and elderly accommodation.

The site is former protected green belt spanning 56 acres of farmland to the west of Hale Gate Road and south of Halebank Road.

Halebank Parish Council and neighbouring Hale Parish Council have now contacted the Fleetwood Hesketh family, which owns large swathes of agricultural land in the green belt surrounding the villages of Halebank and Hale, and urged them to reconsider allowing the development to take place.

Cllr John Anderton, deputy chair of Halebank Parish Council, said: "These plans would literally double the size of the village which simply does not have the infrastructure to cope with such a massive development.

“Our only connection to the rest of Halton is via the Ditton rail bridge, which is in desperate need of replacing. Local roads are already congested due to the large number of commercial vehicles from the employment areas in Halebank."

The planned site in Halebank (Image: PR)

The Halebank Parish Council claimed there has been a ‘lack of meaningful consultation’ from the developer.

Parish council chair Cllr Terry Colquitt, added: "The family have a long and close association with Halebank and Hale.

"Francis’s great uncle lived at Hale Manor House until his death, when the estate passed to his nephew.

“There has always been a constructive relationship between the family, their agricultural tenants and the community, so we are hopeful that the family will agree to dialogue with the villages to find a mutually agreeable way forward that respects the character and well-being of both communities.”

Local resident Sandra Lawson, whose agricultural smallholding will be completely surrounded by the proposed development, added: "It will be impossible for me to raise livestock in what will become a completely built-up area. It will be the end of my business and will completely destroy the rural character of the area."

Halebank Parish Council said the greenbelt land between the two villages was the ‘last remaining expanse of open countryside’ on the north bank of the Mersey between Burbo Bank and Fiddlers Ferry.

Cllr Colquitt added: “The countryside between Hale and Halebank is a green lung that has been enjoyed and appreciated by walkers, rambling clubs, bird watchers, cycling clubs, running clubs and angling clubs for many years.”

Harworth Group did not respond to requests for comment.