A NEW communal garden at a park home site in Whitegate will be allowed to stay after it was granted retrospective planning permission.

The area at Riverside Park, in Mill Lane, includes space for growing produce, rearing chickens, children’s play equipment and a gazebo, with decking alongside the River Weaver.

But the facility was constructed without prior permission from Cheshire West and Chester Council in breach of planning control.

Northwich Guardian:

Planning documents submitted as part of the retrospective application state that the communal space was created for the ‘enjoyment of residents’ at Riverside Park, as well as that of family and friends who visit.

It states: “The applicants carried out work to create the garden in the very best of faith, but now do appreciate that a breach of planning control has taken place which needs to be addressed.”

The document also adds that the applicants are fully committed to promoting nature conservation on site.

Northwich Guardian:

They have contacted Mid Cheshire Barn Owl Conservation Group, which has agreed to install an owl box on site, and attended a meeting of the local beekeeper’s association to offer to host a hive.

The Canal and River Trust, which owns the land, said that it had no objection to the principle of the garden, but added that further works are necessary before being approved.

These include undertaking an approved scheme of planting to minimise the visual impact on river users and to enhance biodiversity.