Expect delays on A34 as ground investigations commence for Handforth Garden Village

Ground investigations will be taking place later this month on the site of the planned Garden Village at Handforth.

The surveys on the site, which the Council owns approximately 70% of, are due to start on Monday and last for around eight weeks. They will include land and drainage surveys, as well as samples being taken from the ground.

Planning permission was granted for the development of a new garden village on the east side of Handforth in September 2023, which will provide 1,500 new homes of which 30 per cent will be affordable, 5 per cent will be self-build and there will also be starter homes for young people and 175 housing units for older people.

The scheme includes a new 'all-through school', providing both primary and secondary education, with a community hall and sports pitches located alongside it as well as a children's nursery.

There will also be a village centre, with shops, restaurants, a hotel, and a village pub, along with up to 30 acres of employment such as studios and offices, as well as shared workspace facilities.

Construction is planned to begin on the site by September 2026. These initial infrastructure works will take approximately 2 years. It is expected that the delivery of the whole village will take about 12-15 years to complete.

During the surveys, some areas of the site will be cordoned off for safety, and there will also be some traffic management in place for short periods.

Councillor Michael Gorman, chair of Cheshire East Council's economy and growth committee, said: "I would like to thank residents and those visiting the area for their patience while the surveys over the next few weeks take place.

"This is an important step towards delivering on our ambitions for the Garden Village site, which includes 1,500 new homes, new employment space, a village centre, extra care accommodation, a new school, a community hub and green space for the local community to enjoy.

"Significant progress to drive the scheme forward has been made over the last year, and an update on its delivery will be considered at the March meeting of the council's economy and growth committee."

While the ground investigations are carried out, traffic management will impact the A34, access to Total Fitness, Long Mile Drive and Coppice Way. There will also be a one-day closure of the route to Tesco via dumbbell roundabout. Traffic will be diverted to the main roundabout.

There will be no full road closures, lane closures or temporary signals in place.