A PLANNING enforcement investigation has been launched after a developer breached a condition over proposals to build 180 homes in Stretton.

Homes England and Barratt Homes are working together to deliver the properties on land bounded by Pewterspear Green Road and Stretton Road.

Work started on the site last month, with completion of the project earmarked for 2021.

However, serious concerns have been raised over lorries going through residents’ narrow street to get to the site, rather than using the access point set up.

Cllr Judith Wheeler (LD – Appleton) said: “Barratt’s should have had a site manager from day one.

“They should have dropped leaflets off to resident to tell them what is going to be happening and about the temporary disruption.”Warrington Guardian:

Cllr Sharon Harris (LD – Appleton) says residents are ‘feeling sidelined’ by the process.

“Having realised it was a problem, they should have been proactive in contacting residents, which they don’t seem to have done,” she said.

“It has not started well and it will probably fill residents with abject fear over what else is to come during the process.

“They must have experience of this and must know what needs to be done to have good relations with residents – and the need to have a manager on site.”

Barratt Homes has apologised for any disruption caused and thanked residents for their patience.

A spokesman added: “It is normal practice for our contractor to manage the site during road construction and for Barratt Homes site managers to then take over the house-building process.

Warrington Guardian:

“We’ll shortly have managers on the site, supervised by one of our award-winning project managers.

“There has been regular contact with residents and councillors but we accept that more could have been done to communicate with our neighbours.”

As well as launching a planning enforcement investigation, the council is also looking into noise complaints.

A spokesman said: “There is an open planning enforcement investigation in respect of this site and a breach of condition notice was served on the developer on January 8, due to lack of adherence to the approved route for construction traffic.

“The developer has advised that the approved route was closed down for safety reasons but will be available from January 18.

“The council has also received noise complaints regarding operations on the site and is currently investigating the concerns raised.”