Plans for up to 450 new homes in Mollington have taken a step forward after an environmental assessment request was submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Developer Taylor Wimpey is preparing an outline planning application for a new residential development of up to 450 new homes on land off Parkgate Road in Mollington, Chester.

It follows a public consultation held in October, which invited residents to share their views on the proposals ahead of an outline planning application.

The request is for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) scoping opinion, which asks the council to agree which environmental issues should be investigated as part of the assessment.

The findings will be set out in an environmental statement, which will later accompany the future outline planning application.

Described as approximately 24 hectares, the site is made up of three agricultural fields with hedgerows and trees along their boundaries. It is bordered by Parkgate Road and the Shropshire Union Canal.

Of the 450 homes proposed, at least 45% will be affordable housing, according to the developer.

Two new junctions are proposed on Parkgate Road to provide vehicular access to the site, alongside multiple footpath connections into surrounding communities.

A mobility hub and associated infrastructure would also form part of the proposals.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2029, with the development expected to be completed by 2038, according to the scoping report.

The report identifies five areas for further assessment, including landscape and visual impact, flood risk and drainage, ecology, built heritage and archaeology, and socio-economics and health.

On agricultural land, the report states that the site is classified as grade 3a, with existing features including ponds, groups of trees and a 32kV overhead power line which "constrain its agricultural use".

It adds: "In the context of the site and the proposed development, the loss or alteration of agricultural land is not anticipated to give rise to significant environmental effects."

The scoping report also states that transport and traffic will be considered in a separate transport assessment, with the development expected to provide additional connections between the site and the surrounding highway network.

Nine GP practices within three miles of the proposed development were identified in the report, with an initial assessment finding most were currently accepting new patients.

It also identifies seven primary schools within 1.5 miles of the site, with their existing capacity to be assessed as part of the EIA.

Water resources and potential impacts on nearby habitats are also considered within the scoping report.

It identifies several water bodies and environmental receptors which could potentially be affected by the development, including Finchetts Gutter and the Shropshire Union Canal.

The report highlights the "potential for a deterioration in the quantity and quality of water supplies for sensitive habitats associated with the proposed development".

These receptors have been included for further assessment because the proposed development "has the potential to result in significant adverse effects".

Taylor Wimpey has asked the council to respond to its request within five weeks, setting out which environmental issues must be assessed before a future planning application is submitted.

You can find the full environmental impact assessment scoping report here.