ALMOST 200 houses are to be built by Redrow Homes at a £100 million development off Northwich Road in Knutsford.

The estate will include allotments, a community orchard, sports pitch, children’s play area and more than 15 acres of open space.

The 36-acre site has been purchased from The Crown Estate and has outline planning permission for 190 new homes.

Daresbury-based Redrow Homes (NW) will seek reserved matters consent from Cheshire East Council for properties from its Arts & Crafts influenced Heritage Collection, similar to homes being built in places like Woodford, Sandbach, Hartford and Congleton.

The Knutsford development will have a finished value of about £100 million.

Work to create access to the site is scheduled to start in July, with homes due to be under construction by the end of the year and the first legal completions anticipated in June 2020.

Alongside its new homes Redrow will fulfil an earlier pledge by The Crown Estate to fund local infrastructure, including payments to special needs education, GP services, highways improvements to the Canute Place junction, a new pedestrian crossing on Northwich Road and new fitness equipment for Knutsford Leisure Centre.

The total value of these is expected to exceed £1 million and, in addition, the site will include 30 per cent affordable homes worth several million more.

Paul Moore, Redrow’s managing director in the North West, said: “This will be an exceptional development in a near-perfect location, less than a mile from all the shops, restaurants and businesses of Knutsford town centre, within easy reach of the M6, a short drive from Tatton Park and with a good choice of schools close by. It’s set to be a real jewel in our crown.

“We will also be making a positive contribution to the community through financial contributions to local services, provision of much-needed affordable housing and creating employment opportunities for local labour including apprentices.”

Redrow’s proposed housing mix at Knutsford is 81 four and five-bedroom detached homes, 57 three-bedroom detached, 22 three-bedroom semis and 30 two-bedroom terraced properties.

Among them will be 57 affordable homes for either shared ownership or rent, which will help meet local need.

Savills’ northern development team acted on behalf of the Crown Estate on the sale.

Berit Rose, associate director in the development team at Savills Manchester, comments: “We are delighted to have concluded this sale to Redrow on behalf of the Crown Estate.

“As a highly desirable place to live, the quality homes planned by Redrow will be a perfect fit in the town, whilst the open space and planned community infrastructure will further enhance the area. We are pleased to confirm that we will now be bringing the next phase of development forward on site.”