Cheshire East has given the go-ahead for 65 affordable homes in Middlewich but one councillor voted against saying the planning didn't take into account the impact on the town.

Breck Homes plans to build the properties on land to the east and west of Croxton Lane.

The principle of development had already been established as the site has an existing permission for 52 houses.

The application before the southern planning committee yesterday (Wednesday) was to increase that number to 65, which included more smaller properties.

The scheme is for 100 per cent affordable housing.

Middlewich councillor Garnet Marshall (Ind) speaking as a visiting member, said: "This committee should be mindful, if it approves the application, you must deal with ways of reducing to an absolute minimum the disruption and discomfort that the construction of these houses will impose on residents."

He said traffic at peak times is nose-to-tail in both directions and conditions must be imposed to stop construction vehicles making the situation even worse.

Cllr Mike Muldoon (Sandbach, Con) said the proposal was a 'well put-together application' which seemed to tick all the boxes.

But he shared Cllr Marshall's concerns about construction traffic in peak times and contractor parking.

He proposed the application be approved as per officer's recommendation but with additional conditions relating to construction management.

Cllr John Bird (Middlewich, Ind) said the committee needed to think about the impact of the scheme on the town.

He said various proposals were in the pipeline and 'we could have another 200 or 300 houses on top of these houses'.

He said a number of planning applications have been agreed and there is massive build underway between Middlewich and Sandbach.

Cllr Bird said there were no spaces at local schools, no dentists, the doctors were full and there was a lack of public transport in Middlewich.

He asked the application be deferred 'until we've got the detail relating to how the project is going to be developed, in terms of the impact on the streets while it's being developed so we could be absolutely sure that all of us, sitting around this table, can put a hand on our heart, look Middlewich residents in the eye and say, yeah, that is going to go forward as smoothly as possible'.

Planning officer Dan Evans said there were standard conditions for construction sites and he didn't see why the Croxton Lane site should be treated any different to others.

Cllr Bird said to compare the traffic conditions on Croxton Lane at peak hours to any other site 'tells me that you don't know the area very well and I guess the highways team haven't really been that familiar with it'.

Cllr Muldoon, who had proposed approval, insisted conditions be imposed relating to contractor parking within the site only and deliveries only between 9.30am and 3pm.

This was seconded by Willaston councillor Allen Gage (Con).

The scheme was approved with eight voting in favour, two abstaining and Cllr Bird voting against.