DETAILED plans have been submitted for a £69 million new housing development in Crewe.

North West growth and regeneration group Torus and residential developer Mulbury have submitted a planning application to Cheshire East Council to build 400 new homes on a site in Leighton.

Torus first unveiled its plans for the 24-hectare site, off Flowers Lane, last November.

It is the group's single largest investment in a new housing development. Torus says the cornerstone of the scheme is its 'post-coronavirus' design, which includes a large, public open space at the heart of the development featuring a park, playing fields and play areas for children of all ages.

The mixed-tenure site proposal includes homes for affordable rent, shared ownership and rent-to-buy.

The homes - a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties - will be accessed through a new road off Flowers Lane. New pedestrian footpaths also form part of the development, linking it up with surrounding areas.

Chris Bowen, managing director of Torus Developments, said: "A landmark site for the group, Flowers Lane is another example of our commitment to investing in Cheshire East through boosting access to truly affordable homes.

"Coronavirus has shone a light on the need for high-quality housing which supports people onto or along the property ladder - without overstretching themselves financially - which is why we are actively developing a mixed-tenure site suitable for first time buyers, downsizers and families.

"Collaborating with regional and national partners, Flowers Lane will see us build the homes local people need, exactly where they need them, to support the development of a residential site that will boost and improve residents and the wider community's health and wellbeing."

Martin Bury, co-founder and director of Mulbury, added: "We have a longstanding relationship with Torus and we're incredibly proud to be working in partnership again on this major scheme, which is the largest site we've delivered in terms of housing numbers.

"The Leighton scheme creates a distinctive range of family homes that will make this a special community with lots of character.

"The significant green infrastructure, which includes the park and the retention of trees and hedgerows, will also create a real sense of place."

The site is allocated for residential development in Cheshire East Council's Local Plan.