A SOCIAL housing developer is looking to build hundreds of new homes on a site in Northwich.

Nuvu Developments, which is part of Your Housing Group, has lodged a planning application for 395 homes on land between Bowden Drive and Griffiths Park – including part of the former ICI Wade Works site.

The land sits to the south of Wade Brook and on either side of James Street – with Lostock Works, the Renescience Northwich site and the Mid Cheshire Line all in close proximity.

Nuvu's scheme would include 132 homes for affordable ownership plus another 132 for social rent – while 131 homes would go on the open market.

In the application, a spokesman for agent WSP said: "The proposal is sustainably located and would bring forward much needed homes on a part previously-developed site in an urban location, easing pressures on the green belt and open countryside.

"The proposed development seeks to address the need for high-quality family housing across the borough.

"It will also deliver a significant amount of much-need affordable housing – above current policy requirements.

"As an allocated site, it has been established that the site is suitable in principle for residential development."

If approved, the development would feature of detached, semi-detached and mews properties, along with apartments.

There would be 18 one-bedroom properties, 136 with two bedrooms, 182 three-bedroom homes and 59 four-bedroom houses.

Main access to the site would be from a new road between Hargreaves Road and Wade Works – while access from James Street would be restricted to pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles.

An aerial shot of the Wade Works site. Image: Nuva Developments

An aerial shot of the Wade Works site. Image: Nuva Developments

There would be a mix of garages and shared driveways on the site, with a total of 754 parking spaces, plus space for 790 bicycles.

Remediation work would take place this year, and the proposal includes areas of public open space, plus pedestrian and cycling routes.

The former Wade Works site has had a number of planning applications since ICI closed it in 1994.

The company revealed plans for 381 homes on the land back in 2003, before NPL Estates submitted a proposal for 350 homes on the site a year later, only for former Home Secretary Charles Clarke to block the proposal in 2005.

NPL returned with plans for 300 homes and a retirement village in 2008 but these proposals never came to fruition.

Last year, Nuvu announced its intention to prepare the Wade Works site for 'at least' 235 new homes.

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Residents can have their say on the plans until Friday, February 19.

To view the application, search for '21/00055/FUL' on CWAC's planning website.