LAND next to Delamere Forest earmarked for 180 houses has been placed on the market.

The 30-acre former industrial site benefits from outline planning permission, and 30 per cent of the 180 homes on the site would be affordable.

The housing is likely to consist of a mixture of two, three, four and five-bedroom properties.

The homes are to be built on the site of the former Marley Tile Works on the edge of the forest. The site, which is opposite Delamere Station, has been derelict for almost a decade.

It has been placed on the market by the Crown Estate, and is being marketed by Savills.

The planning consent from Cheshire West and Chester Council includes provision for a new roundabout, highway safety improvements, as well as pedestrian safety improvements at Delamere station.

In addition there are financial contributions towards the local primary and secondary schools, the provision of gas and broadband services and for improvements to Delamere Community Centre.

“The former industrial site, next to Delamere Forest, has been designed to blend with the local woodland setting and will return over half the site as green space for local community uses, including allotments, woodland walks, wetlands and informal play areas,” said The Crown Estate.

“The development is about nine miles from Chester and close to Delamere Rail Station, offering regular train services between Manchester and Chester.”

Steve Melligan, strategic land manager for The Crown Estate, said: “This is an excellent development opportunity and another example of how The Crown Estate is actively managing its assets to bring brownfield sites back into productive use, including helping to meet demand for new homes and providing key infrastructure improvements to the local community.”

The Crown Estate is an independent commercial business, established by an Act of Parliament, and all of its annual profits are returned to the Treasury for the benefit of the public finances.

Its portfolio includes all of Regent Street and much of St James’s in central London, and the outline planning application was unanimously approved by the strategic planning committee at Cheshire West and Chester Council last October.