Thorngrove in the hunt for Cheshire permissions

Thorngrove Developments has acquired two sites for housing development in Sandbach from Cheshire East Council.

MAZE Planning Solutions has submitted planning applications for immediate redevelopment of the sites, which will provide 14 three, four and five bedroom high quality family homes.


The sites at Middlewich Road in the town centre and London Road, near Sandbach railway station, were acquired by competitive tender.

Thorngrove Managing Director, Lee Charnley, said:

“Whilst there are already numerous residential schemes currently under construction in Sandbach, I am very confident that our developments will provide a superior offering that will clearly distinguish them from the typical styles being marketed by the mass builders within the town."

“Whilst these will be the first residential schemes that Thorngrove Developments has undertaken, our commitment to delivering exceptional quality and meticulous attention to detail, with each interior being individually designed by an interior designer, will set us apart from similar priced new build offerings."

“We are currently looking for similar sites throughout the North West as we continue to grow our development portfolio across all property sectors.”

Both developments have been fashioned by North West firms APL Architecture and Urban Green.

Elsewhere, sister company Thorngrove Land & Property has partnered with Richardsons Capital to develop a speculative 260,000 sq.ft high bay warehouse in Derbyshire at J28 of the M1. The scheme is the first major development for Lee Charnley since leaving Property Alliance Group last year, where he was Development Director.

We worked tirelessly on behalf of a private client, with the help of a hand picked, tight-knit advisory team, to secure planning permission for a unique family home in Rossendale with a history of failed applications. A nice one to get right.

For further information, take a look at the project summary or get in touch. 

info@mazeplanning.co.uk  0161 327 2202 

Burscough Housing Scheme Approved

West Lancashire Borough Council has given its approval to proposals for development of 86 houses on land at the junction of Liverpool Road South and Abbey Lane in Burscough.

The planning application was made by MAZE Planning Solutions on behalf of the landowner, Time Token Ltd.

The Council's decision, reached on 05 September, brings to a close a lengthy planning application process needed to explore and resolve issues relating to ground conditions, ecology, noise and drainage.

The site has a chequered planning history, with several failed and withdrawn applications.  MAZE worked with the Borough Council over an extended period prior to submission of the application to ensure that the emerging Local Plan document supported the principle of housing development, clearing the way for a successful application this time around.

The planning permission is subject to a S106 agreement that will secure a significant financial contribution towards the Burscough/Ormskirk Linear Park initiative and a mechanism to ensure a viable level of affordable housing is provided when development takes place.

Clough & Willis is managing completion of the S106 agreement and Nolan Redshaw Chartered Surveyors is handling the sale of the site for Time Token.

MAZE was assisted during the applications by contributions from:
Nolan Redshaw Chartered Surveyors
The Harris Partnership
Croft Transport Solutions
ERAP Consultant Ecologists
Nicholls Colton Geotechnical
Hepworth Acoustics
Waterco
Urban Green
Utility Connections Management Ltd
Waterline Environmental

Housing Application at Rossendale United

MAZE Planning Solutions has submitted an outline planning application for housing development on the former Rossendale United ground at Dark Lane, Newchurch, on behalf of the owner, Rossendale United Holdings Ltd.  The application follows public consultation undertaken in the spring and proposes a development of 50 family homes, together with a commitment to provide a financial injection to sport and recreation facilities serving the local community in Newchurch.

Rossendale United ceased to be an active football club at the end of the 2009/2010 football season when it was expelled from the Vodkat League because funds were not available to cover the costs of a playing campaign.  Significant debts had built up and there was no way of balancing the books.

In January this year the club’s redundant Dark Lane ground in the Newchurch area of Rossendale was subjected to an arson attack that destroyed the main stand, drawing attention to the need to identify a long term use for the site.

Andrew Watt of MAZE Planning Solutions said:

“We are pleased to have now moved on to the formal planning application process.  It brings the prospect of sorting out the mess that now exists at Dark Lane nearer to a conclusion. 

The need to improve the supply of housing development opportunities in Rossendale Borough is self-evident.  The land at Dark Lane is well suited to help the Council achieve that objective.  It sits in the midst of established housing and residential use is the only realistic alternative for it.

We will work through the application process carefully with the officers at Rossendale over the coming weeks and are hopeful of securing their support and a planning permission early in the New Year.” 

 The proposed development layout can be viewed here.

Gateshead Housing Application Submitted

MAZE Planning Solutions has submitted an outline planning application for development of 7 houses in the village of High Spen, Gateshead, on behalf of the owner, Northern Properties.

Maze first secured planning permission for development on the site in 2006.  The revised scheme provides an alternative form of housing to appeal to the current market and preserves an existing home on the site which was previously due to be sacrificed to the development scheme.

Click here for a 3D image of the proposed scheme

Interested purchasers can contact Stephen Smith at Ashley Smith Chartered Surveyors in Durham for further details.

Rossendale United - Planning Application Imminent

Coverage in this week's Lancashire Telegraph confirms that preparations for submission of a planning application for housing development on the former Rossendale United football ground are at an advanced stage.

MAZE Planning Solutions is leading the application process, following on from public consultation undertaken during the spring which sought feedback on the proposed 50 home development. 

Click here to read the Lancashire Telegraph Article.

Rossendale United - Public Consultation

MAZE has launched a public consultation exercise to help shape development proposed at the former home of Rossendale United Football Club in the Newchurch area of Rossendale Borough.

Rossendale United ceased to be an active football club at the end of the 2009/10 season. Significant debts had amassed and the consequent inability to pay the day-to-day bills led to expulsion from the Vodkat League.

The Club's pitch and associated facilities at Dark Lane have become a target for vandalism and anti-social behaviour. On 15 January this year the main stand was devastated in an arson attack. 

It has become increasingly urgent and important to identify a positive future for the ground to prevent it becoming a serious blight on the local community, and to remove the risks and dangers of a repeat of the recent fire.

The consultation exercise seeks to do that by encouraging the local community and other interest groups to get involved.  The consultation was launched on 14 February and runs until the 7th March 2012.  It asks for feedback on a proposed family housing development of about 50 units, together with ideas for an associated 'sporting legacy'.

Further details: www.darklanedevelopments.co.uk