Cheshire East has given the go-ahead for a new house in the open countryside at Sandbach saying the fact the council doesn't have a five-year housing land supply weighs heavily in its favour.

Applicant David Cain said the proposed new-build on land at Canalside Farm off Cottons Lane would be for his daughter, who runs a dog grooming business from a property on the site, and her family.

"It would be built behind the existing main house and dog grooming building and would not impose on either the adjacent countryside or the conservation area and historic features of the canal, which are such an important part of where we live," Mr Cain told today's (Wednesday) meeting of the southern planning committee.

The application was brought before the committee to decide because it conflicted with council planning policy, as the site is in the open countryside, but had been recommended for approval by the head of planning.

Cllr David Edwardes (Macclesfield, Ind) moved it be approved.

Cllr Andrew Kolker (Dane Valley, Con) seconded the approval saying: "Part of the [planning officer's] report highlights that we do not have a five-year housing land supply, and that small developments do have an impact on our housing land supply.

"Therefore, despite it being contrary to several planning policies, principally it is within the designated open countryside and conflicts with the neighbourhood plan, I think the fact that we don't have a five-year housing land supply weighs very heavily in favour of the application and so, therefore I'm quite happy to second the proposal to approve."

The vote to approve was unanimous.

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Applicant David Cain said the proposed new-build on land at Canalside Farm off Cottons Lane would be for his daughter, who runs a dog grooming business from a property on the site, and her family.