HANDFORTH could get a new ‘park and ride’ facility to boost connectivity as it grows with the new 1,500-home garden village.

Cheshire East Council is considering a planning application for a new 115-space car park on land between Handforth Youth Club and St Benedict’s Catholic Church, on the other side of Station Road to Handforth rail station.

It would provide extra parking spaces for people looking to catch a train, with the station currently having no designated car park, freeing up more space across the village.

In its planning application, CEC-owned development company Engine of the North, said: “The availability of daytime parking in and around the district centre of Handforth is an existing problem due to competing demands from car users visiting local businesses and travelling by train.

“Demand for parking can exceed supply from time to time.

“Without this new park and ride, the impact of the garden village – increased car parking demand – will inevitably exacerbate this situation.

“This could undermine the economic health of the district centre and discourage travel by train.”

A bus stop would also be included, providing connections to the new garden village, which will be built on the opposite side of the A34 to Handforth Dean.

Pedestrian links would be provided between the car park and the station, the village centre to the west and the garden village to the east.

Storage would also be provided for 36 bicycles, while eight motorbike parking spaces would be available and landscaping around the youth centre would be improved.

Fifty car parking spaces would be funded by developments at the garden village, while the remainder would be funded from other nearby developments.

Engine of the North says the scheme would be ready by 2030 alongside the garden village.

It added: “Future residents will be able to arrive at the park and ride by car, cycle or bus.

“They can then walk into the district centre, or travel by train or bus to other destinations.”

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The proposals were discussed with Friends of Handforth Station last September and Handforth Parish Council last October.

Comments can be submitted to CEC until July 16, and a decision is expected by September 9.

To view the plans, search for ‘20/2211M ‘ on CEC’s planning website.