Controversial plans for up to 325 homes in Sandbach have been recommended for approval despite 1,100 objections and a 2,135-signature petition.

Bloor Homes wants to build the dwellings, together with a community park, on 19.28 hectares of open countryside and agricultural land between Manor Road and the A533, The Hill.

The application, which is due to be considered by Cheshire East's strategic planning board on Wednesday (November 19), also includes 30 per cent affordable homes.

The council's planners acknowledge the site lies within the open countryside, where national and local policy seeks to restrict development.

But Cheshire East no longer has a five year-land supply since the government made changes to the national planning policy framework at the end of last year.

A report from the council's planning officer states: "The loss of open countryside is balanced against the benefits of providing much-needed housing on the edge of one the borough's key service centres…

"The site is sustainable, is not of particular landscape value and the delivery of the site for residential development will provide a positive contribution towards the council's housing land supply whilst representing an efficient use of land.

"The principle is therefore acceptable."

Sandbach Town Council has objected, claiming the application is 'procedurally unlawful'.

It states: "Submission is substantively deficient – across biodiversity, arboriculture, flood risk, heritage, ecology, PROW (public right of way), and highways.

"The only lawful and appropriate outcome is to refuse the application in full and to declare it invalid."

Betchton Parish Council objects saying: "The sheer number of new documents submitted would appear to be deliberately trying to confuse and mislead the public."

The parish council believes the changes are 'so significant and materially alter the scope of the proposed development that the outline planning application should be declared invalid and withdrawn'.

It says: "A new application should be resubmitted and the planning process restarted with a clear and proper public consultation period."

Approximately 1,100 objections have been sent to Cheshire East over the two consultation periods from more than 600 addresses, including from the ward councillors.

The objectors cite more than 50 reasons why they believe the application should be refused including:

• the land is open countryside and is a valuable green buffer between existing homes and the main road;
• traffic and road safety concerns;
• access concerns as a new red line boundary has been added in the amended
• plans;
• loss of farmland;
• the proposal will fundamentally change the character of the area;
• an application on this site has previously been refused and dismissed at appeal;
• overdevelopment of the site and Sandbach generally.

The council's planners reiterate the council does not have a five-year housing land supply.

The officer states in the report: "The proposal is for sustainable development which would bring environmental, economic and social benefits and is therefore considered to be acceptable in the context of the relevant up-to-date policies of the Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy."

The strategic planning meeting takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings at 10.30am on Wednesday, November 19.

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