Castle Green Homes
Chester Road,
Hartford
Welcome to our community consultation
Chester Road, Hartford
Welcome
Castle Green Homes are bringing forward plans for around 110 new homes on land at Chester Road, Hartford including affordable housing, areas of public open space and landscaping – aiming to create a new sustainable neighbourhood set within an attractive landscape setting and providing much needed new homes in Hartford.
We are keen to hear from local residents and stakeholders, prior to an application being submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council for consideration.
Please visit the ‘Have your say’ section to provide your comments.
About us
Castle Green Homes is a leading regional housebuilder, delivering high-quality new homes and thriving communities across the North West and North Wales.
With decades of experience, we are committed to creating places people are proud to call home. Our developments are thoughtfully designed to reflect their surroundings, enhance local character and meet the needs of modern living, from first-time buyers and growing families to downsizers.
As a five-star rated housebuilder, recognised by the Home Builders Federation for customer satisfaction, we place quality, sustainability and community at the heart of everything we do. We carefully consider the environmental, social and economic impact of our developments, working closely with local authorities, consultants and communities to shape proposals that deliver long-term benefits.
We believe successful development starts with listening. Through this consultation process, we welcome feedback from local residents and stakeholders to help inform our plans and ensure our proposals respond positively to local needs and aspirations.
40 year
track record
98% customer satisfaction
Five star housebuilder by the HBF
4.7 Score on
trust pilot
Why are new homes needed?
For over 50 years, there has been a sustained lack of housebuilding nationally and a failure to deliver the number of homes required to meet the needs of a population which is living longer, resulting in local shortages of both open market and affordable housing. There exists a ‘housing crisis’ in the UK where growing numbers of people are living in accommodation unsuitable for their needs or cannot afford to acquire a home – the average first time buyer in the UK being 34 years old – an increase of five years since 1990.
Government is clear that there is a need to ‘significantly boost’ the supply of housing, defining housing targets for each local authority to meet their current and future needs and deliver around 370,000 new homes per year nationally.
Cheshire West and Chester Council are currently preparing a new Local Plan which once adopted will determine the number of homes required to meet its future housing needs. It is acknowledged that the Council cannot currently demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply and therefore is required to identify additional sites to meet its housing needs.
The Site
The land at Chester Road extends to around 4.16 hectares and is located to the south west of Hartford.
It is bounded to the north and south by the A559 (Chester Road) and the A556 respectively. The western boundary adjoins Whitegate Lane and several residential properties accessed from it, while existing housing in Hartford borders the site to the northeast.
The land is currently in agricultural use, with an existing farm access taken from Whitegate Lane at the southwest corner.
Local Context
The site in a sustainable location and well placed to provide short, direct and attractive pedestrian journeys to a range of day-to-day amenities such as bus stops, shops, schools and health facilities.
Public Transport
The nearest bus stops are located on Littledales Lane and Whitegate Lane, both approximately 100m to the west of the site and providing local services towards Northwich, Hartford and surrounding villages.
The nearest train station is Hartford railway station situated 0.9km to the east of the site.
Local Housing Need
Cheshire West and Chester Council is currently experiencing a significant housing shortage. To respond to local housing need, 45% of the proposed homes will be affordable, delivered across a range of tenures to support a variety of household circumstances.
Open space and Recreation
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On-site open space, including equipped play will be provided in line with the Council’s open space standards.
Natural Environment
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The layout will respond to existing landscape features, retaining existing trees and significant hedgerows where possible.
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The scheme will secure a 10% biodiversity net gain, through a mix of on and off-site initiatives.
Transport and Accessibility
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Transport improvements will be required to support the development, including ensuring appropriate access arrangements to the site, provision of cycling and walking routes which connect into the wider existing footway network and provide connectivity with the existing community.
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Good accessibility to public transport services will be provided by ensuring that bus routes and bus stops on Chester Road are accessible through safe and accessible footpath links.
Utilities and Environmental Protection
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A site-wide surface water strategy will be implemented, incorporating sustainable urban drainage (SUDs) and flood alleviation measures.
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The development shall be designed to mitigate the impacts of climate change and be as energy efficient as possible – seeking to meet a proportion of its energy needs from renewable or low carbon sources. Homes will utilise Modern Methods of Construction [MMC] and be installed with photovoltaic panels and electric vehicle charging points.
Proposed Scheme
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Around 110 new homes including affordable homes, as well as homes for first time buyers, families and those looking to downsize.
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A mix of 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom homes including homes which can be made adapted for wheelchair users.
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45% of the homes will be affordable housing and will be delivered in a variety of tenures including for affordable sale, shared ownership and rent alongside our Registered Provider partners.
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Public open space including new equipped play and areas utilised for biodiversity enhancement.
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Retention of existing trees and hedgerows within the Site
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Vehicular access via a singular point from Chester Road and the creation of new and enhanced pedestrian footways and cycleways,
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10% biodiversity net gain
Open Space & Landscaping
The scheme will deliver high quality open space ensuring provision of accessible and comprehensive green spaces to new and existing users.
An equipped play will be provided on site and public open space will be overlooking by adjacent housing to provide natural surveillance and contribute to the safety of the site.
The existing trees and hedges will be retained where possible and designed into the proposed development.
Site Considerations
Site opportunities & Constraints
Technical Considerations
Highways
Vehicular access to the Site is proposed via a singular point from A559 Chester Road and footpath connections are proposed to Whitegate lane.
Public Transport – The development of the Site presents an opportunity to deliver new homes in a sustainable location with good access to a range of public transport choices, to minimise reliance on private cars.
The nearest bus stops located on Whitegate Lane and Littledales Lane to the west of the site and providing local services towards Northwich, Hartford and surrounding villages.
The nearest train station is Hartford railway station situated 0.9km to the north-east of the site.
Pedestrian/Cycle Access - The Site incorporates a network of attractive pedestrian and cycle routes which provide connections to existing footpath provisions between the site and existing shops and services in Hartford.
Noise
A Noise Assessment will be undertaken prior to the submission of the planning application. There are no known noise constraints which prevent the development from coming forward for new homes. Where required, mitigation measures will include higher specification glazing at some locations to further reduce the noise levels across the development.
Heritage
A Heritage assessment will be undertaken prior to submission of the planning application to inform the scheme. There are no known heritage assets within or around the vicinity of the site.
Ecology/Arboriculture
An Ecology Appraisal will be undertaken to support the application with an appropriate soft-landscaping scheme. The proposed scheme will seek to retain much of the features within areas of green infrastructure including hedgerows and trees along the site boundaries, however if any trees or hedgerow are to be removed to accommodate proposals, replacement trees will be planted.
The site will achieve a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain.
Drainage & Flood Risk
The site is located wholly in Flood Zone 1 and not affected by surface water flooding.
Due to the impermeable nature of the existing ground and lack of open or culverted watercourses within the vicinity of the site, surface water runoff from the development is proposed to discharge to the nearest adoptable surface water sewer located in Chester Road.
Foul water flows from the development will discharge to the nearest adoptable foul water sewer located in Chester Road.
Benefits
Up to 110 new high quality and sustainable homes
S106 & Community Infrastructure Levy contributions to support local services
Provision of 45%
affordable housing
Over 300 direct and
indirect jobs created
Accessible, green
public open space
Approximately £220,000 Council tax revenue p/annum
Contact us
Have your say...
We would welcome your feedback on our proposals. To have your say, please complete the feedback form no later than 20th March 2026 to ensure your comments can be considered.
Once complete, all responses will be reviewed before finalising the scheme for submission. The planning application will be accompanied by a Statement of Public Consultation detailing how Castle Green Homes has sought to respond to those comments received.
If you would like to send your comments via email or post, please send them to the following addresses: -
Post
c/o Chester Road Consultation
Castle Green Homes
Bridgemere House
Preston Brook
WA7 3BD