PLANS to build 10 semi-detached homes on the site of a demolished church in Northwich have been given the green light, despite concerns over the  condition of local private roads.

ILA UK Ltd had submitted plans to Cheshire West and Chester Council to build the properties off Dyar Terrace in Winnington on the site of the former St Luke's Church, which was bulldozed in 2015.

The scheme will see a row of two-and-a-half storey dwellings built, with off-road parking for two vehicles and a community green space created towards the east of the site.

The application was called in to the planning committee by Cllr Robert Cernik on behalf of local residents due to their concerns over the nature of the proposal and its compatibility with the council’s Neighbourhood Plan – the strategic document which underpins the borough’s planning policy.

Dyar Terrace and the main access road for the planned development - Solvay Road - are unadopted, meaning they are privately owned and the council does not have to maintain them.

Northwich Town Council had raised concerns regarding parking on Dyar Terrace and wanted planning conditions included stipulating that it should be repaired. It was also keen for the road at the junction of Solvay Road and Winnington Lane to be considered for adoption when brought ‘up to standard’.

Addressing the meeting, Cllr Cernik said: “One of the conditions that I would like to see if this development does go ahead is that significant road improvements are made all around the area, because the exit from the new houses proposed is actually on to Dyar Terrace.

"So there are 10 houses and there's space for two cars in each of the drives. And they'll be coming out from Dyar Terrace, and they'll be coming down to the entrance of Solvay Road, and that really, really does need improvement.”

But planning officers said it wouldn’t’ be feasible to require the developer to improve the roads for a development of only 10 houses. Highways officers told the meeting they would not take on responsibly for the road as it was in such ‘very poor condition’ and that it was not a ‘liability’ the authority would willingly enter in to.

Moving approval, committee member councillor Peter Rooney, said: “I've listened to my fellow councillors and their suggestions, and given that it's an unadopted road and there's no real things we can do with it because it doesn't belong to us, I’m willing to put forward that we accept this recommendation and go for it.”

The plans were approved unanimously.