Cheshire East planners have rejected a permission in principle planning application for the erection of up to nine "self and custom-build" houses near Sandbach.

The land off Hind Heath Road in Wheelock was proposed for development by Prosperity Land. Their agent argued "that there is a need for self-build housing across the semi-rural areas".

Matthew Wyatt, of PWA Planning, said in his report on behalf of the applicant: "The proposed development will generate important economic, social and environmental benefits – with significant material weight attributed to the delivery of much-needed self and custom-build housing."

Planning officers determined that the development would be "unsustainable", in part, as it fell within the open countryside.

Their decision notice stated: "The development would result in an urban encroachment into the open countryside which would harm the character and appearance of the area."

They also feared the development would lead to a "coalescence" of Wheelock and Ettiley Heath, removing the separation between the two areas. This would contravene the Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan policies relating to this issue.

The Sandbach Town Council planning committee also listed this breach of the Neighbourhood Plan as one of their reasons for planners to reject the application.

Mr Wyatt argued that the benefits of the development would "significantly outweigh any limited conflict with LPS Policy PG6 and the Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan".

The plans faced opposition 27 local households who voiced their objections during the consultation process.

One objector wrote: "This is a terrible abuse of greenbelt in an already overly densely populated area. The local transport infrastructure is at breaking point, and the overwhelming destruction to natural wildlife are huge matters for this proposal."

An Ordsall Close resident raised concerns over the congestion in the area, arguing the new homes would exacerbate the problem.

A King Street resident echoed the concerns, writing: "Hind Heath Lane is already a busy and narrow country lane, often used as a thoroughfare between Sandbach station and Crewe Road in Wheelock."

One neighbouring resident was concerned about local wildlife. They said: "Not only is this greenbelt land, it also backs onto the Wheelock Salt Line Way. This is a hugely important wildlife habitat seeing as the greenbelt either side of it has recently been decimated by greedy developers."

A resident who lives close to the site also noted concerns for wildlife; in particular the badgers, hedgehogs and birds that inhabit the field.

"With all humility of an ordinary citizen, I cannot claim enough expertise but am a proud inhabitant of this part of a beautiful environment and have to respect it," the resident wrote.