Anwyl acquires Congleton site for 119 new homes for private and affordable markets
North West housebuilder, Anwyl, has acquired 13 acres of land in Congleton for 119 new homes from clients of Ainscough Strategic Land, for an undisclosed sum.
Work will start this week on the development, named Elmy Fields, after pioneering women’s rights campaigner Elizabeth Clarke Wolstenholme Elmy.
Elizabeth, born in 1833, lived in Congleton for more than 50 years.
A key activist within the suffragette movement, she campaigned for women’s rights, including social reform and women’s education.
Elizabeth also championed legislation including The Married Women’s Property Act of 1882, which ensured women could earn money and property independently from their husbands, and the Guardianship of Infants Act of 1886, which expanded women’s custodial rights in relation to their children.
A statue of her was unveiled in the town in 2022.
Anwyl’s Elmy Fields will deliver 98 homes for private sale, in a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom designs, alongside 21 affordable homes.
As part of the section 106 agreement linked to the planning application, Anwyl will contribute around £1.9m towards the £90m Congleton Road Link Road, which was renamed Wolstenholme Elmy Way when it opened in 2021.
The road has been funded in part by developer contributions linked to new homes in the town.
Anwyl’s proposed payment towards the link road would be in addition to an anticipated education contribution of around £800,000.
Alex Wigfield, land director for Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales, said: “We’re looking forward to starting work at Elmy Fields in Congleton, which is in a sustainable location on the edge of the town with access off the link road.
“The development will meet strong local demand from first time buyers, growing families, professionals and downsizers for highly energy-efficient new homes. Each well insulated property will feature PV solar panels.”
Designed around areas of green space, natural landscaping and footpaths, the scheme features four acres of open space.
Alex added: “We’ll be retaining the Public Right of Way through the site and adding several footpaths to link to the surrounding neighbourhoods as well as an area of play on site. There will also be a pedestrian crossing created over the link road.”
Ainscough Strategic Land (ASL) acted as the land promoter for the site with Asteer Planning as planning consultants and Gateley as legal advisors.
David O’Reilly, managing director of ASL, said: “We’re pleased with the outcome for our landowner partners. We have a significant pipeline of sites across the country coming through the planning system, including in the North West and expect to announce further updates in the first half of the year.”
ASL’s legal advisor was Prew Lumley, at Squire Patton Boggs (Leeds), with John Broadbent, of John Broadbent Consulting, the agent acting on the ASL’s behalf.
Anwyl completed its Somerford Grove development in Congleton in 2017.
