Cheshire East decides on countryside homes

Cheshire East Council is to consider three planning applications totalling 500 homes on open countryside at its planning committee meeting on Wednesday 18 November, and is expected to approve the development of 340.

At Tall Ash Farm on the eastern edge of Congleton, Bloor Homes has proposed the construction of 236 homes on a 40-acre site. The houses would be between two- and five-bedrooms.

Bloor was advised by Emery Planning Partnership.

At Audlem Road in Nantwich, Wainhomes has submitted proposals for 104 homes at Audlem Road and the expansion of Brine Leas School. The northern portion of the site has outline planning permission for up to 40 homes, granted on appeal in August 2014.

Wainhomes was also advised by Emery Planning Partnership.

Both Wainhomes’ and Bloor Homes’ schemes have been recommended for approval by planning officers.

Meanwhile, the committee is expected to refuse an application from Richborough Estates’ for the construction of 170 homes on open countryside in Moorfields, Willaston. The proposals are currently the subject of an ongoing appeal process, with a Court of Appeal hearing scheduled for December.

The appeal is against a High Court ruling from February, in which High Court judge Justice Lang backed Cheshire East Council’s previous refusal of the Moorfields development and said that there had been an “error of law” when the development had been approved at appeal last August.

Richborough is advised by Barton Willmore.