Hawarden housing plan consultation reopens with updated documents

The consultation period for a proposed 300-home development on agricultural land between Gladstone Way and Ash Lane in Hawarden has reopened after new and amended documents were submitted.

Flintshire County Council is now inviting further feedback until 10 January 2024.

The controversial application by Castle Green Homes includes plans for 105 affordable homes, public open spaces, vehicular and pedestrian access points, and sustainable drainage systems.

However, it has faced significant public backlash, with over 670 objections filed by local residents, raising concerns about its impact on infrastructure, the environment, and community wellbeing.

Updated Plans and Amendments

The amended documents include updates to the landscape and ecological management plan, detailed building elevations, planting plans, and transport assessments.

Developers have also submitted a flood consequences assessment and proposals for bird and bat boxes as part of their ecological commitments.

The site, currently agricultural land, has been designated for residential development under Flintshire County Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP).

Castle Green Homes argues that the project will help meet local housing needs, including affordable housing, while contributing to infrastructure funding.

In a statement, the developer said:

“The proposed development has been carefully designed to balance the need for housing with sustainability. It will deliver affordable homes, public open spaces, and energy-efficient housing in a location that aligns with the Flintshire Local Development Plan.”

Community Concerns

Despite the developer’s assurances, local opposition remains strong.

Many residents have expressed fears about the strain the development will place on already overstretched schools, GP surgeries, and transport links.

Sandycroft Primary and Hawarden Village Church School are already over-subscribed, while local healthcare facilities are struggling to meet demand.

Flooding is a particularly pressing issue. The proposed site, while classified as low-risk, is near areas that have experienced severe flooding, including Lower Mancot and Sandycroft.

Local politicians, including Mark Tami MP and Jack Sargeant MS, have raised concerns about the potential for worsening flooding due to increased urbanisation.

Jack Sargeant MS said:

“Building more houses on this site will only exacerbate existing flooding problems in Mancot and Sandycroft. We need real, long-term flood defences before considering developments of this scale.”

Residents are also worried about the loss of green space and the development’s impact on the historic setting of St Deiniol’s Ash Farmhouse, a Grade I listed building.

Political and Community Opposition

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami criticised the plans, stating:

“This development risks overwhelming the character of Hawarden and Mancot while adding to the pressures on local services and infrastructure.”

Local councillor Cllr Swash previously described the campaign against the proposal as “the biggest of its kind in Flintshire’s history,” accusing developers of ignoring the community’s wishes:

“This proposal represents a trampling over the views of local residents. It threatens to flood our community with unaffordable homes while straining infrastructure that is already at breaking point.”

Next Steps

The reopening of the consultation provides residents with another opportunity to voice their concerns.

Flintshire County Council will review the responses before making a final decision on the plans.