New plans have been submitted for 13 homes on land off Wrights Lane in Sandbach after Cheshire East Council refused an application to build 26 on the site last year.

The land lies within the allocated LPS53 Capricorn site in the local plan and the main reason for refusal of the previous scheme was because some of the homes proposed were on land allocated for employment use.

Edgefold Homes has appealed against last year's refusal and a decision on that is still awaited.

Now the developer has applied to the council for permission to build half the number of homes on a smaller section of the site.

A planning statement submitted by WSP on behalf of Edgefold Homes says: "Without prejudice to the appeal scheme, this application has been prepared in light of the reasons of refusal for the original application.

"The council's principle reason for refusal was that the application proposed housing on an area indicatively marked for employment…

"This new application is for a reduced site area and reduced number of total dwellings so that the housing falls completely within the area marked for housing within the policy LPS53."

Another reason for the refusal – and one which was debated a great deal during the planning meeting in January 2023 – was about the access to the site.

Members of the southern planning committee said that Wrights Lane, by reason of its narrow nature, would not provide a safe and suitable access to serve the proposed development.

With regard to this latest proposal, the planning document from the applicant states: "A separate application has been submitted to the council for the access and the provision of 10 parking spaces for residents of Wrights Lane. That application site bounds the site for this application with the access also serving this proposal."

It adds: "In order to link the two permissions should they be approved, we are happy to accept a Grampian condition that prevents this residential element from being occupied until the access and parking spaces for Wrights Lane residents has been delivered."

The proposal is for two two-bedroom homes, five three-bed and six four-bed houses, together with car parking, open space and landscaping.

The site will be accessed via Wrights Lane, linking to the access and parking area sought under the separate application

The previous application was refused last year for five reasons.

The planning statement from the developer says the new proposals 'fully address and overcome the reasons for refusal associated with the original planning permission on the site'.

The application, number 23/4597C, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council's website.

The last date for submitting comments is February 1 and the application is due to be determined by a planning officer under delegated authority.