West Cheshire to get 22,000 new homes by 2030, says council

The council said extra housing would create 14,000 jobs by 2030

About 22,000 homes will be built in west Cheshire during the next 15 years, Cheshire West and Chester Council said.

More than 900 acres (3.65 sq km) of land could also be developed by 2030 after a local blueprint was approved by most councillors.

Nearly 60% of the new properties would be on brownfield sites and 14,000 jobs would be created, the council added.

Councillor Lynda Jones said the plan "strikes a balance" between housing needs and environmental protection.

It recommends 5,200 new homes should be created in Chester; 4,800 in Ellesmere Port; 4,300 in Northwich; 3,500 in Winsford and 4,200 in rural areas.

Green belt concern

Ms Jones said approval of the blueprint, which took five years to develop, also brought forward plans for retail development at Northgate, next to Chester Town Hall.

Two councillors voted against the proposal, including Conservative member Gareth Anderson who expressed concern about the impact on green-belt land in Ellesmere Port.

Development planned for the Ledsham Road site has been controversial, although Ms Jones said the green belt around the town would continue to be protected.

The document's approval followed a public examination by a government inspector last year.