Latest news with #CastleGreenHomes
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Planning committee urged to reject 300-home Hawarden plan
Flintshire People's Voice councillor Sam Swash - who represents the Hawarden Mancot ward - has supported residents' campaigning against plans to develop on agricultural land at Ash Lane off Gladstone Way for six years. With Flintshire County Council planning officers recommending approval of the scheme this week, Cllr Swash has asked councillors to back Hawarden residents who have opposed the plans since they were first proposed. "This is the most unpopular housing development in Flintshire's history," said Cllr Swash. "It has led to the largest petition ever submitted to Flintshire County Council, hundreds of placards being erected across the local community and the most objections to a single planning application in the county's recent history." Read more: 300-home Ash Lane, Hawarden development backed for approval Opposition to developing the land began in 2019 when the agricultural fields between Gladstone Way, Ash Lane and Park Avenue on the Hawarden/Mancot border were first included in Flintshire's Local Development Plan. Opponents quickly formed an action group - Stop the Gladstone Estate Development - and a Facebook page to oppose the plans. The land - now owned by Castle Green Homes - continued to be earmarked for development in the county's 2015 Local Development Plan. In March last year the application was submitted to Flintshire County Council's planning department to build 300 homes - including 104 affordable homes - on the site. Of 697 neighbours notified of the plans during consultation, 684 objected to the plans. There were also objections from Hawarden Community Council and Queensferry Community Council with regard the impact on flood risk on the proposed site and the surrounding areas and the pressure the development would place on local services, while Clwyd Badger Group were concerned about the impact on badgers active near the site. Nevertheless officers have recommended approval of the scheme, subject to a Section 106 order which would see Hawarden Village School receive just over £625,000 to make improvements to serve the new estate while Hawarden High School would receive almost £950,000. Cllr Swash believes the weight of local opposition means councillors on Flintshire's Planning Committee should refuse the application when it is considered on Wednesday at Flintshire Council's Ty Dewi Sant headquarters. "For those councillors with a vote on Wednesday, there is no more hiding behind the Local Development Plan," he said. "They must now judge this site on its own merits, or lack of them. "The choice facing them is a simple one - they can vote to stand with the people they're elected to represent, or they can vote to approve a demonstrably reckless plan for the benefit of private housing developers. "The Hawarden community has been completely united in its opposition to these plans for years, and with good reason. This is the council's final opportunity to restore our community's trust in local democracy, by listening to the overwhelming views of the people this development will impact on a daily basis."
Leader Live
a day ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Oakenholt 121 affordable homes plan backed for approval
Castle Green Homes is seeking permission to build 121 designated affordable homes on land at Quarry Farm and Leadbrook Drive in Oakenholt, near Flint. The site, which sits outside of Flintshire's Local Development Plan (LDP), is approximately 12 acres (4.87 hectares) and is currently used for agricultural purposes, surrounded by existing residential properties on its northern, eastern and western boundaries. Land beyond the site's southern boundary is open countryside currently in use for agricultural purposes. The layout of the proposed development. (Image: Planning documents) The development would comprise a range of two-storey one-to-four-bedroom properties and include a variety of flats, terraced and semi-detached properties. Flintshire Council has received a total of 55 objections from local residents - who raise concerns over the fact the site lies outside of the LDP, potential impact on flooding, increased traffic, loss of open countryside and overdevelopment. Nevertheless, planning officials have recommended the scheme by approved by Flintshire Council's planning committee at its meeting on Wednesday (June 11). MORE NEWS: A planning officer's report states: "The proposed development will provide 121 dwellings of which 100 per cent will be affordable housing. The scheme provides a logical extension to Flint, a Tier 1 Main Service Centre and is acceptable in principle having regards to being an affordable housing exceptions site in accordance with the LDP. "The development will assist in meeting the identified affordable housing need for the settlement, the layout, public open space provision, biodiversity enhancements and other detailed technical considerations are considered to be acceptable and in accordance with policy. "As such it is recommended that the application is approved."
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
300-home Ash Lane, Hawarden development backed for approval
The controversial application is for land to the west of Gladstone Way and west of Ash Lane in Hawarden. The site, which is within Flintshire's Local Development Plan (LDP) is approximately 27.33 acres (11.06 hectares) and consists of a number of agricultural fields bound by existing residential properties on its northern, eastern and western boundaries. Land beyond the site's southern boundary is open countryside currently in use for agricultural purposes. The layout of the proposed development. (Image: Planning documents) Of the 300 homes proposed - 105 would be designated afforable housing. Castle Green Homes submitted the planning application last year - and it is set to be decided on by Flintshire Council's planning committee next week. And planning officials have recommended the scheme for approval. An officer's report states: "The site is an allocated housing site in the LDP. The development is acceptable in principle and meets the requirements of the housing allocation in accordance with the LDP. "The layout, public open space provision, biodiversity enhancements and other detailed technical considerations are considered to be acceptable and in accordance with policy. As such it is recommended that the application is approved subject to the commuted sums and conditions." MORE NEWS: Both Hawarden and Queensferry community councils have objected to the scheme, and there have been 2,500 objections from local residents. The site has been subject to a "Stop the Gladstone Estate Build" campaign, fronted by Hawarden councillor, Sam Swash. There are grave concerns over the impact on flooding, the loss of green space and inadequate local infrastructure to meet the need of extra population.
Leader Live
19-05-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Castle Green to showcase new homes in Rhosrobin, Wrexham
Castle Green Homes is hosting an event at its popular Llys Y Coed development to showcase two homes that are ready to move into. Visitors will be able to view finished examples of the four-bedroom detached Beaumont and Burlington house types. The homebuilder is offering to cover the Land Transaction Tax (LTT), also known as Stamp Duty, on both the Beaumont and Burlington, worth more than £6,000. Sales director Sian Pitt said: 'Homes at Llys y Coed are proving popular with dozens of properties already reserved and many of them occupied. While some people want to buy off plan, choose everything inside their new home and wait for us to build it for them, others are keen to move sooner rather than later. "We have two homes in Rhosrobin ready to move into and a two more the construction team are working on that haven't been sold and are due to be finished this summer. We'd invite anyone looking to make a quick move to a new home in the Wrexham area to join us next Saturday. They'll be able to view the Beaumont and Burlington house types, along with the show homes.' The Beaumont offers 1,222 sq ft of living space including a lounge at the front, with combined kitchen, dining and family room spanning the width of the property. A cloakroom completes the ground floor. Upstairs are four double bedrooms, one with en-suite, plus the family bathroom. The Beaumont is available form £338,995, with the LTT contribution worth around £6,840. Priced from £329,995, the Burlington spans 1,249 sq ft and again has a lounge at the front. The kitchen/ dining room is at the rear, plus there's a cloakroom and storage cupboard. Upstairs, the main bedroom has an en-suite, leaving the family bathroom to serve the other three bedrooms. PROPERTY The LTT on this property is almost £6,300. A double fronted four-bedroom detached Bewley will be ready to move into this summer for £349,995. The ready to move event takes place on Saturday (May 24). For more information about the development visit Castle Green's website.
Leader Live
29-04-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Richard's physical feat in aid of a trio of charities
After an impressive weight loss, Richard Williams is now taking on a new challenge - the Three Peaks in aid of a trio of charities. Richard will embark on the challenge with Castle Green Homes colleagues in the summer, but it's something he could only dream of doing just 15 months ago. "In 2023 I had a bit of a scare in life and the doctor said to me 'you are 50 and if you carry on the way you are, within five years you will have a heart attack, a stroke, type one diabetes and you might die'," Richard said. Read more: Humphrey Ker completes marathon to raise over £125,000 for Wrexham Miners Project "I was 22 stone, my knees were hurting and I was quite depressed." He'd had to have a seat belt extender on a flight and couldn't fit through a scaffold on a job. He was so embarrassed he'd make excuses not to attend social events. Having previously tried various diets with mixed results, he said: "I decided in December 2023 to go on a mission - if I'd waited until January, I never would have done it. I started off cutting food portions down and eating fresh food, then started walking a bit at a time." His old diet consisted of three cans of energy drinks, chocolate and "all the unhealthy stuff". Now he takes a packed lunch to work with wraps and fruit in, making a conscious choice to control portion size. Read more: Meet 6 cats and dogs hoping for their forever homes He said people started noticing his weight loss after about four stone. Richard, operations director at St Asaph-based Castle Green Homes, spoke at the company's staff conference about his journey and moved some colleagues to tears, while inspiring some to start losing weight. "It took a lot of courage to talk to 100-plus people about how I concurred my weight problem," he said. Richard is now firmly focused on training for the Three Peaks. He'll be joined on the challenge by colleagues Nigel Pritchard, Mike Williams, Gethyn Evans and George Povey. "The Three Peaks was something I'd dreamed of doing but couldn't because I was so overweight," Richard explained. Read more: Riding school charity's 'all or nothing' emergency funding plea "In August I started training hard, going up mountains including Snowdon. It killed me the first time but now I do it every month and in April and May I'll be doing it every week in preparation for tackling the Three Peaks in June." He's chosen to raise money for mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, Prostrate Cancer UK and Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue. "I want to make a difference with a group of people. If we can raise £100,000 it would mean a lot to me," Richard added. Revealing why he chose the charities, he explained: "I was suffering in silence. Being overweight made me hate myself which I was depressed about, but I put a smiley face on at work. I was quite a good actor, masking and making people think I was jolly, but I wasn't happy with myself. Read more: Flintshire group's fun 'call to action' puts spotlight on prostate cancer "It was like I was in a deep hole and when I tried to get out, I'd slip deeper but eventually I managed to climb to the top. Chasing the Stigma is a charity helping people who are struggling with their mental health, like I did, with the Hub of Hope, the UK's largest directory for mental health resources. With construction workers said to be four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average, it's a charity that's close to home. "Friends and colleagues have had prostate cancer, so helping that charity was a natural choice. Supporting Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue means that if someone is stranded, there's help coming." The group will take on the Three Peaks on June 26. They aim to start at Ben Nevis at about 5pm, sleep during the overnight drive to Scafell Pike, scale that peak by 8am and then on to Snowdon, with a target of finishing by 4.30pm. • To donate to Richard's fundraiser, visit:
