Public consultation opens for Oakenholt’s 128 ‘affordable’ homes

A developer has launched a pre-application consultation on plans to build nearly 130 homes close to the A548 in Oakenholt.

Castle Green Homes is seeking public input on the proposed project, with the consultation set to run until 8 January 2024.

The proposed site named Quarry Bank Farm, spans 12 acres (4.87 hectares) of land located south of the A548 Chester Road, it is flanked by Leadbrook Drive and the Croes Atti housing development.

Currently agricultural land, the site is bordered by existing residential properties and open countryside.

The development plans to introduce 128 affordable homes, encompassing a mix of one-to-four-bedroom properties.

This range includes flats, terraced, and semi-detached houses.

Emphasising sustainability, these homes will feature double glazing, energy-efficient heating systems, and high-standard insulation in floors, roofs, and walls.

According to documents posted on the consultation page of the Castle Green Homes website, the site “will comprise 100% affordable housing which will be delivered in perpetuity by a registered provider.”

Traffic Assessment

The A548 often faces long queues into Flint at peak times, as well as during school holidays and summer, when people heading for the coast divert from the congested A494 black spot at Sealand.

A Transport Assessment was carried out by SCP on behalf of Castle Green Homes.

The assessment focused on providing highway, traffic, and transport advice for the development.

It confirmed that the existing road geometries are adequate for the traffic expected from the new development.

The Transport Assessment states that the local highway network’s safety record over the past five years shows no significant concerns relating to the development.

Additionally, the site’s accessibility has been assessed favourably for walking, cycling, and public transport, indicating that future residents will have viable alternatives to private car use.

The impact of traffic from the development has been meticulously tested, particularly at the A548 Chester Road/Ffordd Dewi roundabout.

These assessments demonstrate sufficient capacity to accommodate the new development without significant disruption, the report says.

Existing properties in Oakenholt have been hit by flooding in the past, the A548 was closed from the roundabout towards Flint last month due to heavy flooding following Storm Babet.

A Flood Consequences Assessment has been carried on behalf of Castle Green, it found there was a low risk of flooding at the site from various sources including the sea, rivers, surface water, groundwater, sewers, and climate change.

It states that no mitigation measures are needed for future development due to the low risk.

The site has no history of flooding, but the soil has poor infiltration properties, leading to surface water runoff into nearby watercourses.

The development will increase the impermeable area, raising runoff rates and volumes.

To manage this, runoff from highways, roofs, and drives will be directed into gravity piped networks, oversized pipes, and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) features like permeable paving and bioretention components.

Castle Green’s website states: “The dwellings, roads, and associated landscaping proposed will be designed and constructed to a high standard.”

“They will be entirely in keeping with the character of the surrounding area and in accordance with relevant policies within the Flintshire Local Development Plan, offering a well-considered and attractive place to live for future residents and making a significant contribution to meeting the identified housing needs of Flintshire.”

A Design and Access Statement published as part of the consultation states: “Overall, the delivery of 128 homes will make a positive contribution to meeting affordable housing needs in Flintshire.”

“In the overall planning balance, the significant benefits of granting planning permission are considered to outweigh any reason for why planning shall not be granted.”

“The development is considered to constitute sustainable development having regard to the social, economic, and environmental aspects of the proposal, and should therefore be granted permission without delay.”

You can take part in the consultation here: https://planning.castlegreenhomes.uk/application/quarry-farm-oakenholt/