Cheshire East has given the go-ahead for part of a 95-home scheme which lies on its side of the border at Middlewich, despite arguments it will exacerbate existing traffic problems.

BLOK UK Ltd wants to build the homes on a parcel of land just off the junction of Centurion Way and Holmes Chapel Road.

The site straddles the Cheshire East/Cheshire West & Chester border, with 75 of the homes within Cheshire East (CEC) and 20 within CWAC's jurisdiction.

Today (Wednesday) Cheshire East's southern planning committee voted to approve the outline application for the construction of the properties, green infrastructure and access off Centurion Way.

But the scheme could still be scuppered if CWAC refuses the part of the application in its jurisdiction.

Unlike the CEC site, which is allocated for housing, the CWAC part isn't, councillors were told today.

Middlewich councillor Garnet Marshall (Ind) asked the CEC committee to refuse the scheme or to defer it for a thorough assessment of its impact on the A54 and the Leadsmithy Street junction in particular.

Speaking as a visiting member, Cllr Marshall said: "This committee has been made aware the parcel of land in question is adjacent to the A54.

"What's not mentioned is that it's a through-route, an ever expanding through-route, for traffic wanting to access Winsford Industrial Estate, which is some three miles away.

"The omission is significant, as it could cloud the judgement of this committee…

"The officer's statement implies the only roads affected by the proposal are Centurion Way and Byley Lane.

"It makes no mention of the Kinderton section of the Holmes Chapel Road, the A54, which leads directly to the Leadsmithy junction, which is a known pinch point for traffic delays."

He added: "What I am saying is that this particular piece of land is purely and simply in the wrong place."

Fellow Middlewich councillor John Bird (Ind), who voted against the application, said there were too many unanswered questions, particularly regarding highways.

He added: "It's pointed out in the plan that there's a shortage of [school] places in Middlewich, so where are these young people going to go? We'll be shipping them out.

"The impact on the budget for the Cheshire East is going to be significant."

He said the town also didn't have enough doctors' places or dentists.

Cllr Andrew Kolker (Con) said he was struggling to find a planning reason for refusal.

"We have to recognise that this is an allocated site, so the presumption is that it's going to be passed," he said.

"Obviously, highways is a massive issue in Middlewich, but the advice from our highways officer is that the impact is not severe enough to warrant a refusal and I think, as a committee, we have to recognise that, or else we're going to be clouted when it comes to an appeal.

"Personally, I prefer an exit on Byley Lane, because it takes a significant amount of northern bound traffic away from Middlewich but, again, the advice is that that's not for this committee to decide, it's for Cheshire West & Chester's planning committee to look at."

Cllr Kolker proposed the application be approved and this was seconded by Cllr Allen Gage (Willaston &Rope, Con).

The application was approved with eight councillors voting in favour, two abstaining and one voting against.