RENEWED plans to build 20 houses by the Barrowmore Estate not far from Chester have been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The proposals would see "unsightly" old barns, works and a timber yard demolished on Barrowmore Estate land at Barnhouse Lane, Great Barrow, to be replaced by 14 open market and six affordable homes.

There would also be the construction of garages, parking, gardens and new internal access roads, as well as the creation of a footpath link from the site to the nearby village.

Planning documents say funds used from the redevelopment of the 0.31 hectare site would go to the refurbishment of the nearby Barrowmore House, a site of supported accommodation for vulnerable people with disabilities, prioritising ex-servicemen.

This will be the fourth attempt to build houses at the site in the past 10 years, after a 30-dwelling development was refused in 2013 and plans for a similar development were withdrawn the following year.

Beeston Aspinall Architects submitted plans for 20 new dwellings and a footpath, but the plans were refused in May 2020.

Planners Goodwin Planning Services say they have addressed the reasons for refusal in their new application.

Addressing concerns of 'increasing urbanisation' by building homes on Green Belt land, planners say the proposed dwellings would take up less of a building footprint than the existing site, with greenspace increasing by 176 per cent, and all the new homes would be 'eco-friendly', with electric boilers and electric charging point facilities.

A proposed footpath plan has been "substantially enhanced" and would "promote a safe and suitable route to local amenities in the village of Barrow" 850 metres away from the site.

Planners said: "The scheme will enhance openness and improve the character of the area and the amenities of local residents.

"It will result in positive short and long term economic impacts."

Planners added: "The proposed residential development will fund the maintenance and refurbishment of the facilities at the trust and to allow for essential maintenance to be carried out on existing accommodation for users which is in urgent need of upgrading, such as through the provision of replacement windows, heating and kitchens.

"The site is within walking distance to the main Barrowmore estate and residents would have access to the on-site facilities such as the cafe."

Comments on the application can be made by July 1, using Cheshire West and Chester Council's online comment facility, or by writing to Development Management, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 0BE.

Applications such as these can be found at the Chester Standard's online Public Notices portal and within the Chester Standard newspaper each week.