While a planning application has not yet been submitted, a consultation period is ongoing until Sunday, August 10, for Propsco’s proposed new estate at Beach Farm on Wallerscote Road.

Beach Farm, to the southeast side of the village, was sold by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) to a private buyer when the land is understood to have had a no-build covenant on it.

However, the farm has since been sold on again, and the covenant has now been removed.

A second proposal by Barratt Homes to build around 200 more new houses on Sandy Lane to the north of the village has also been put to Weaverham Parish Council.

No more information has been provided by Barratt at this time.

Residents of Keepers Lane, whose homes currently back onto farmland, are worried they will lose their peace and quiet, and their uninterrupted views (Image: Propsco Ltd)

Claims about the possible speed of the Wallerscote Road development emerged at a public meeting convened by CWAC and Weaverham parish councillor, Gillian Edwards.

The meeting was held at Weaverham Community Centre at 6pm on Friday, August 1.

Cllr Edwards said although the Wallerscote development is not on land earmarked for residential development in CWAC’s Local Plan, which includes a commitment to build 1,900 new homes, this is no reason to think planning permission will not be granted.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Edwards said: “If both developments go ahead, make no mistake, it will have a huge impact on the village we all know and love.

“With the government’s plans to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament, all councils are going to have to build a lot more homes.

“I am not naïve enough to believe Weaverham will not be built upon.

“The developers for Wallerscote Road are pretty ambitious, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw spades in the ground by this time next year.”

Cllr Edwards added the timescale for the Barratt development, if it goes ahead, is likely more like two-and-a-half years.

One resident, who asked not to be named, told the meeting her neighbour on Keepers Lane, which overlooks Beach Farm, had a firm offer on her late mother’s house before the development was announced.

However, once the buyer found out, they reduced their offer by a staggering £15,000.

Another resident, who also did not want to be named, said: “We will lose our peace, our quiet, and our views, while the occupants of the new houses will still have theirs.

“It’s just not fair.”

Another referred to the developments as ‘a foregone conclusion’.