Plans for 204 homes on land south of Old Mill Road in Sandbach have been recommended for approval.

The proposal, from Anwyl Homes, also includes landscaping, public open space, ecological enhancement area and internal roads.

Access will be taken from a new spine road and remodelled five-arm roundabout off Old Mill Road, which has already been approved as part of an earlier application.

A report to next week's meeting of Cheshire East's strategic planning board states: "The application relates to two parcels of land which are located either side of the A534 and cover an area of 7.93 hectares.

"The eastern parcel is proposed to be developed for residential purposes and the western parcel is proposed to be used for ecological enhancements."

The eastern parcel comprises agricultural land and is located to the east of the A534 and to the west of residential properties that front onto Palmer Road, Condliffe Close and Laurel Close.

The site has been the subject of various applications in the past and has an extant permission for residential development.

Sandbach Town Council has objected to this latest application saying there have been no substantial material differences made to the application since it was last submitted.

Hassall Parish Council states: "Compared to the Muller scheme the proposal is wall-to-wall roofscapes and car parking.

"The number of houses on this site increases with each application.

"The previous retail-led scheme would have created jobs and a feel of community.

"The current proposal does not need the extra 43 houses and needs somewhere like a pub/restaurant and this could be combined with a multi-functional community centre."

There were also letters of objection from two households.

Sandbach Footpath Group has supported the application saying it is pleased the applicant has paid attention to comments and objections to previous application plans for this site.

The proposal is for 204 homes made up of 39 one-bedroom dwellings, 25 two-bed, 87 three-bed and 53 four-bed houses.

The properties would be two to 2.5 storeys in height and the apartment blocks would be three storeys high.

According to Cheshire East policy, 30 per cent of the dwellings, that is 62, should be affordable homes.

But the officer's report states: "The applicant has raised viability issues, and this is due to the delivery of the highway improvement works – the new roundabout, the highway widening and the Toucan crossing.

"The works will be delivered in full by the applicant and the cost associated with these works is £2,426,504.

"These highway works are a major improvement to the road network in Sandbach and are supported by the head of strategic transport.

"The viability case put forward by the applicant has been assessed and is accepted.

"As a result of this there is a reduction in the affordable housing provision with this development."

The application will be considered by the strategic planning board at its meeting on Wednesday, May 28, which starts at 10.30am at Crewe Municipal Buildings.