Wain Estates recently registered their interest to local residents about undertaking a new housing development in south Hartford, at the junction where School Lane meets the A556.

While I understand the pressing need to address the housing crisis, the new development proposed by Wain Estates in this location will exacerbate existing issues rather than provide solutions. 

Below are the potential issues I have identified with the planned build:

Burden on services

• There are no existing services (doctors, ATMs, pharmacies, shops, cafes etc) on the south side of the A556 in the immediate vicinity of the proposed site nor do the plans include any indication that new services will be provided with the development.
• Local services are already overburdened and schools oversubscribed. A new development in this area before additional schools and services are provided will have a detrimental impact on existing residents. 

Accessibility of services

• As per the above, there are no services or schools on the south side of the A556. This means that residents will have to cross the A556 to School Lane for access.  
• This is an incredibly busy road, especially at peak times, which poses a huge risk to pedestrians and cyclists. We are most concerned for children needing to walk to school at these times.
• The current pedestrian crossing is an island crossing, which offers further risk as residents, as they would have to cross two roads and the crossing itself may become congested before and after school, which poses great risk to children's safety

Impact on congestion

• School Lane is a noted traffic hotspot in Hartford proper, with numerous attempts from the council to relieve congestion having been made, such as new markings on the road in the last few months.
• The A556 is an even busier route, as part of a main thoroughfare between Chester and Manchester. Cars will have to turn onto the A556 from the development, causing increased traffic burden and possibly bringing traffic to a halt as cars leave the estate. 

Suitability of housing

• The housing butts up close to the River Weaver, which we believe may have a flood risk in the area, as there was no indication in the proposal that this had been reviewed.
• The information from Wain Estates suggested around 40% affordable housing. Due to the high house prices generally in Hartford, we believe a higher percentage of any proposed housing would need to be affordable. 

Reputation of Developer

• 22% of reviews for Wain Estates on Trust Pilot at 1* reviews, which amounts to over 1 in 5 reviews being a 1* review.
• This includes complaints about their general customer care and about the build quality of their housing.

We urge local authorities to reconsider the approval of this project and encourage solutions that genuinely address housing needs without compromising safety or quality of life. Perhaps alternative locations that better suit the scale and need for new homes in a sustainable way could be explored.

Please sign this petition to ensure that Hartford remains a safe and thriving community for current and future residents alike. Together, we can make a difference.