Park and ride proposals set to move ahead

Plans to develop a park and ride facility in Handforth – which would support the delivery of a major garden village scheme – look set to advance next week.Engine of the North is behind the scheme, which is earmarked for a site near Station Road.The outline application comprises 115 parking spaces, locker parking for 36 bicycles, new crossing points and associated infrastructure.Sitting close to Handforth Station, a new bus stop is also lined up to allow services from the proposed Garden Village to drop off and pick up passengers from the site so they can interchange with rail services towards Stockport and Manchester or Crewe.If backed, the development would be implemented by 2030 and be partially funded by the wider Garden Village masterplan.Cheshire East Council’s planning committee has been recommended to approval the proposals on 13 January.The wider Garden Village will comprise 1,500 homes, up to 30 acres of employment land, a local centre, a school and extensive open space.The council is the lead developer for the project.