OUTLINE planning permission has been granted for new homes to be built on the former Riverside College Campus in Runcorn.

Advised by Bilfinger GVA’s Planning, Development and Regeneration team, the College pursued an outline permission for a residential development and intends to sell the Campus Drive site to a developer.

The proceeds of the land sale will be used to reinvest in the College’s other campuses within the Borough.

Halton Borough Council granted outline planning permission for up to 120 homes at its planning committee meeting on Monday 1 August, subject to the provision of a Section 106 agreement.

The site has been vacant for almost two years after national funding cuts forced Riverside College to review and consolidate its property strategy.

The site is within the urban area and is surrounded to the north-east and south-east by existing housing. Runcorn town centre, shops, train station and local schools are all within walking distance of the site.

Hollie Bryant, Principal Planner in GVA’s Manchester office said: “Redevelopment of the site will bring a vacant parcel of land back into use and contribute towards meeting housing requirements in Runcorn. The site is sustainably located within the existing settlement and accords with the Council’s planning policies for this area.”