IT’S third time lucky for Redrow Homes after the major housebuilder was finally given the green light to build 190 homes off Northwich Road.

Cheshire East Council’s strategic planning board had twice deferred the plans – last August and again in October – to push the developer to produce a more bespoke design for the prestigious location.

Redrow then met with Knutsford Town Council and the Nether Ward Community Group to discuss the plans, before producing the latest designs.

And at Wednesday’s meeting, the developer’s hard work finally paid off as councillors gave the thumbs up to the scheme.

Paul Sinclair, representing Redrow, told the committee: “As this is the third hearing of this application, I hope that members will recognise the improvements and concessions made by Redrow in a bid to address all the concerns that had been raised.

“Every property on this site will be distinctive to Knutsford, and while internal layouts may be familiar to other Redrow houses, the external appearance is tailored specifically to the Knutsford vernacular.”

Following comments made in the last meeting about a housing need for older residents, Redrow has included 38 ‘lifetime homes’ designed to be more accessible.

A bespoke design now also features on the frontage of the development, while bay windows have been added and affordable houses have been scattered across the scheme.

Brian Chaplin, representing Knutsford Community Groups, said: “We now have an attractive gateway to the development and to the town, with a small lake and trees, and bespoke properties behind.

“All the other houses are now, certainly Redrow, but they are tailored to a noticeably Knutsford character.”

Cllr Quentin Abel, independent CEC member for Knutsford, urged the committee to consider pushing Redrow to provide alternative heat sources to gas boilers – but officers insisted they were limited to the energy policies approved in the council’s local plan.

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Opening the debate, Cllr Stewart Gardiner, Conservative CEC member for Knutsford, said: “I didn’t think when I raised the issue of asking for bespoke architecture on this site that it was going to achieve the quality of the architecture that we have been presented with today.”

The development is one of three major schemes proposed in CEC’s local plan for the north of Knutsford.