Council backs homes plan despite safety fears
CHESHIRE West and Chester Council is to approve plans for 48 homes near Northwich despite opposition from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The HSE has objected to the development at Rudheath because it is close to chemical works owned by INEOS, which is also the applicant.
A council document states that new developments should not be allowed if they lead to more people being exposed to “an unacceptable level of risk”.
The four-acre site next to the Trent and Mersey Canal is close to a chlorine plant and an ethylene site. The council says the chlorine plant is no longer operational, adding that “steps are currently being taken by the local authority to have the Hazardous Substance Consent removed because of the issues and problems it is causing for development proposals in the area”.
Aside from the HSE’s objection, residents have written to the council expressing their concern over the loss of open land and the increase in traffic and noise.
The report says: “On balance it is considered that the proposed development is capable of being built without having an unacceptable detrimental impact upon the wider environment or the adjacent Conservation Area. Any negative impacts identified could be mitigated by the imposition of appropriately worded planning conditions and legal obligations.”
The council said it would issue planning permission as long as there were no further comments from the HSE. A decision, expected on Tuesday, has been deferred.
